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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • gado@btinternet.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • projectwang@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "=?iso-8859-1?q?MR.QIN=20WANG.?=" <gado@btinternet.com>
Reply-To: projectwang69@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:35:42 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP. PLS REPLY ASAP.


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: gado@btinternet.com

INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP. PLS REPLY ASAP.

- Dear Friend, I am Mr. Wang Qin of Investment Banking, Bank Of China.I have a joint investment proposal involving US$21,500,000.00.),which is currently placed in an investment account in my bank. I will like you as a foreigner to stand as a fiduciary agent in your country so that we can jointly invest the funds. Note that sharing percentage is negotiable by the two parties. Contact me on this email address: projectwang@yahoo.com.hk Or Tel/fax :+85230107254 with your full names, address, fax and telephone number if you are interested for more details of the Project. Sincerely, Mr. Wang Qin. Tel/fax :+85230107254.private .

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam