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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:
  • ",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)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • pchan00@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: info_chan005@mchsi.com (Mr.Patrick Chan)
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:17:34 +0000
Subject: Your partnership is requested<pchan00@yahoo.com.hk>

Hello,
I am Mr. Patrick K.W. Chan (Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer) of
the Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have an obscured business suggestion for you. If you
will be interested in being my partner to stand as the next of kin of my late
customer for his deposit of $24,500,000.00,then let me know so that i can
furnish you with the necessary information of this deal. This transaction is
risk
free because i shall employ the services of the deceased attorney to endorse
you as
the sole beneficiary to the funds.Get back to me at this email
<pchan00@yahoo.com.hk>
if you are interested a.s.a.p
Regards,
Patrick Chan.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam