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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.

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

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge amount of money" (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 of america" (this email uses bad English)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Grant Obi" <grantobi@acrossborders.ps>
Reply-To: grantobi_2000@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:07:06 +0200
Subject: FROM MR GRANT OBI



Spring Bank Nigeria Ltd.
Plot 143, Ahmadu Bello Way,
Victoria Island, Lagos
>From the desk of Mr. Grant Obi


Dear Friend

My name is Mr. Grant Obi.I am the branch and computer manager here in
our bank,Spring Bank Nigeria Ltd.I have only written to seek your
indulgence and assistance.

I wish to make a transfer involving a huge amount of money, Thirty
million five hundred thousand United State of American Dollars,
belonging to Late Mr. Andreas Schranner, a German property magnate who
lost his life on Monday 31st of July 2000, along with his wife, Maria
and their children and even grand children in a plane crash, the
AF4590

Crash including all 109 people on board and five who died on the
ground when the Plane crashed into the Hotelissimo and till now the
account remains dormant. 

Refer to the website below for more details:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

I am proposing to make this transfer to a designated bank account of
your choice. Thus, for your indulgence and support, I propose an offer
of 20% of the total amount to be yours after the transfer has been
successfully concluded.
 

Kindly reply this mail by indicating your interest, and I shall
furnish you with the details and necessary procedures with which to
make the transfer progress.I will send you all the documents you may
need for the transaction when I heard from you

 
Yours Faithfully,

Mr. Grant Obi

 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam