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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Allan Frederick <allan_charteredbanklondon@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 18:59:54 +0100 (BST)
Subject: FROM THE BANK


ATTENTION SIR/MADAM

Your documents as the the winners of the uk yahoo beta lottery has come to the bank and has been approved,We expect that you must have been informed about what to do by the agent mr micheal hall.

We hereby instruct that the following documents should be provided for immediate acknowledgement and clarification for the release of your funds to you.

(a) Affidavit of IDENTIFICATION
(b) YOUR WINNERS CERTIFICATE WHICH WILL BE SENT TO YOU AFTER WHICH YOU MUST HAVE PAID FOR THE TRANSFER CHARGES,


(C)WE WANT TO KNOW THE MODE OF TRANSFER WHICH YOU PREFER,WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME DOWN TO THE UK TO COLLECT YOUR WON MONEY,SECONDLY WOULD YOU LIKE IT SENT TO YOUR ACCOUNT,THEN IF THIS IS WHAT YOU PREFER YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TRANSFER CHARGE TO YOUR ACCOUNT,WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO TELL US THAT WHICH YOU PREFER.

In furtherance kindly mail us back immediately so we proceed with your transfer.
Thank you. Yours faithfully, Mr. Allan Frederick Officer In Charge International Remittance Department CHARTERED BANK OF LONDON, UK


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam