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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million dollars" (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)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: info <info@tcpip.cz>
Reply-To: susanabu003@yahoo.es
Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:26:09 +0000
Subject: LETTER OF INTENT



From: Mrs Susan Abu
Federal Ministry Of Finance
5th Floor, Annex 3,New Federal Secretariat Complex,
Shehu Shagari Way, Central Area
Abuja Nigeria.
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE FINANCE MINISTER.
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Mrs Susan Abu I'm the personal secretary to the new Minister
of Finance, I'm directed to contact you by the Minister to urgently
confirm from you if actually you know one Peter Woo who claim to be your
business Associate/ Partner in Nigeria
.
The said Mr. Peter Woo is claiming to us that you are dead and he will
like to change all the Informations that you gave to us as the legal
bonafide beneficiary.This development is coming now that the Ministry
want to off-set all your outstanding payments to all our legal foreign
beneficiaries arround the world in your payment file was affected. As you
may known, the total amount i n your favour is a total sum of
$30Million Dollars.
We need to confirm from you if it's really true that you are dead and
If we did not hear from you it automatically means
that you are actually dead and the information passed to us by Mr.
Peter Woo is correct.You are to contact me through my email address as soon
as you receive this message so as to know the true position of things
with you so that we wont make any mistake in remitting your
out-standing payment to a wrong person/account.
Your swift response will help this ministry alot.Do email me with your
full names and direct phone number for an easy communication, your age
and occupation to this effect. Finally send you urgent response.
Your Full Name: ___________________________
Your Complete Address:_____________________________
Name of City of Residence: ____________________
Date of Birth (Day/Month/Year):____________________
Direct Telephone Number:_____ ________________
mobile ____________________________
Number:_______________________________________
Fax Number:____________________________________
Best Regards.
Mrs Susan Abu
Secretary for:Federal Minister Finance(FMF).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam