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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:

• 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:
  • ",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.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• 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.
  • halifaxdesk@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: HALIFAX BANK <halifaxrelief2007@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 14:38:57 +0100 (BST)
Subject: HALIFAX URGENT RELIEF TO A WINNER


To> mr Audwin Goldschhagen

Dear Audwin,

On behalf of the halifax bank of the uk in collaboration with the uk government,We bring to your immidiate notice the annual activation relief of account to each and every winner in the uk xanga promo web alert,
And as a notice to winners to activate an account with less cost of 500 pounds sterlin,to enable your winnings of 3,000,000,00 pounds sterlin which is still in our bank main tresury account to be transfered in a matter of urgency to your country
below are payment details>

WESTERN UNION PAYMEENT INSTRUCTION FOR WIRE TRANSFER
1: Receivers Name : Martin Ashies
2: Destination : England
3: Address: Warrington Street Ashton Under lyne
4: Amount Paid: 500 pounds
5: MTCN:...................................

Mail scaned copy of payment slip to halifaxdesk@accountant.com
Yours faithfully
Mr Kelvin Brooks
ACCOUNT CONTROLER


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam