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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:
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • ",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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: WHITLEY GERALD WHARFE <wgeraldwharfe@easymail.hu>
Date: Sat, 03 Nov 2007 21:23:12 +0100
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED




Hello ,
Partnership request.
 
Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics.I will introduce myself as Mr.Whitley  Gerald  Wharfe, a staff of the Bank of Scotland in the United Kingdom.
 
One of our accounts with holding balance of £15,000,000 (Fifteen Million Pounds) has been dormant and has not been operated for the past six (6) years.
From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account, a foreigner by name Kurt Kahle died in July, 2000 see this http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm and since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because he has no family members who are aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds.
 
I have secretly discussed this matter with a senior official of this bank and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal With. We thus propose to do business with you, standing in as the next Of kin of these funds from the deceased and funds released to you after due processes have been followed.
 
This transaction is totally free of risk and as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act. On receipt of your response I will furnish you with detailed clarification as it relates to this mutual benefit transaction.
I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.
 
Mr.Whitley  Gerald  Wharfe
Bank of Scotland.
The Mound Edinburgh
EHI, IYZ
United Kingdom.
 

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam