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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • ",000,000" (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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • gilmacfin2007@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: appesoft award <appe.soft95@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2007 01:38:56 +0100
Subject: CONGRATULATION:::YOU'VE WON APPESOFT AWARD


Dear Sir/Madam,Ref No: AS-61-5/00707Date: 30th July 2007.
We are pleased to inform you of the result of ourAppesoft Sweepstakes Internet Program that wasconducted and release today the 30th day of July 2007.Your electronic mail address which we attach to theprogram Ref No: AS-61-5/00707 and Serial Number:1WY44-07 has been selected among the lucky recipientand you are subsequently approved for a payment claimof 1,000,000:00 euros only (One Million Euro) beingthe beneficiary of this email address. You are herebyadvice to contact our government official paymentprocessing finance firm on email address:gilmacfin2007@gmail.com with the following (Your CompleteNames, Residential Address, Telephone and Fax Numbers,Occupation, Age, The Amount Approved (Won) and thePayment Reference Numbers) for details on how you areto receive this approved prize money.
It is very important that you provide them with theabove requested information’s for the processing ofyour claim upon your receipt of this message. Beinformed here that all winnings must be claimed notlater than the 13th Day of August 2007 and thatanybody under the age of 18 is automaticallydisqualified and not eligible to apply for a claim ofthese amount. Congratulations from our management aswe expect you to make good use of your funds. Do notealso that every email addresses that were used on thisprogram were gotten without the knowledge of eachrecipient.
Sincerely Yours,Mrs. Maris DrentheSweepstakes Coordinator.Email: Copyright © 2001-2007.*********************************************Note: In accordance with the Appesoft policy andregulations, this message is dispatched directly tothe recipient only. If you are not the rightful ownerof this email address or feel that you have receivedthis message by error, we advice you destroy this copyas you are not authorized to read, print, retain ordisseminate any part of it for any reason.*********************************************
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam