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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million united state dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "million us dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • ritherlease@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: rither rither <rit.04@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:30:04 +0100
Subject: INVESTMENT ASSISTANCE



Dear Sir/Madam, It is obvious that this proposal will come to you as a suprise.This is because we have not met before but I am inspired to sending you this email following the huge fund transfer opportunity that will be of mutual benefit to the two of us. I want you to go into a venture with me as my partner in this deal by helping me and claim these packages/consignments worth 10million US dollars (Ten Million United State Dollars), which my late husband deposited with a finance company in China for safekeeping. I will give you as share of 30% out of the total sum, and then the remaining 70% will be for me, if I receive your willingness to transact this business with me I will give you more details regards to the transaction. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Trust me this is a risk free business relationship. Please get in touch with me by my private email address: ritherlease@yahoo.co.ukI look forward to your response, Remain blessed and have a nice day! Mrs.rither leaseEmail: ritherlease@yahoo.co.uk
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam