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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "certified bank draft" (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348025824103 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • chikaateli080@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: petergreg2@freenet.de
Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:07:50 +0100
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY


Dear Friend, How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your
family? Ihope thismailmeets you in a perfect condition. You may not
understand why this mailcame toyou. But if you do not remember me, you
might have received an email from me inthe past regarding a
multi-million-dollar business proposal which we neverconcluded.I am
using this opportunity
to inform you that the
multi-million-dollarbusiness has been concluded with anotherperson who
financed it to a logical conclusion. I thank you for you\'re great
effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into your account due to one
reason or the other best known to you.But I want to inform you that I
have successfully transferred the fund out ofthe bank to my new
partner\'s account in London that was capable of assisting mein this
great venture. Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and
trustworthiness you showed during the course of the transaction I want
to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of
$650,000.00.I have left an international certified bank draft for you
worth $650,000.00 cashable anywhere in the world.My dear friend I will
like you to contact my
secretary: Mr. CHIKA ATELI, for the collection of
this international certified bank draft. I have authorized him to
release the international certified bank draft to you as soon as you
contact him regarding this issue. At the moment, I am very busy here
because of the investment projects which myself and the new partner are
having at hand. Please I will like you to acceptthis token with good
faith as this is from the bottom of my heart. Also comply with MR. CHIKA
ATELI so that he will send the draft to you without any delay. contact
him on the below contact information:
CONTACT NAME: MR. CHIKA
ATELI
ADDRESS: No 4 cooperation drive dolphins Lagos-Nigeria
EMAIL :
chikaateli080@gmail.com
TELEPHONE: +234-802-582-4103 Therefore, you
should send him your full Name and telephone number/your
addresswhere
you want him to send the draft to you. Thanks and God bless you and your
family,hope to hear from you
soon. Mr.Festus Eze
CONTACT MY SECRETARY:(
chikaateli080@gmail.com )

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam