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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
  
  
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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:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cheque " (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 "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • fedelex_collins@yahoo.ca

Fraud email example:

From: jimpeters13@freenet.de
Date: Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:44:57 +0200
Subject: CONTACT MY SECRETARY NOW FOR YOUR COMPENSATION


DEAREST FRIEND,
I AM BARRISTER Jim peters, AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO
INFORM YOU ABOUT MY SUCCESS IN GETTING THAT FUND TRANSFERED. NOW I WANT
YOU TO CONTACT MY SECRETARY ON THE INFORMATION BELOW AND RECEIVE YOUR
COMPENSATION OF $1.500,000,00 FROM HIM:
NAME....: Fedelex Collins

EMAIL: (fedelex_collins@yahoo.ca)
SEND HIM THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
TO PROVE
YOURSELF TO HIM:
YOUR FULL
NAME;...............................
YOUR
ADDRESS:.................................
YOUR
COUNTRY:.................................
YOUR
AGE:.........................................
YOUR
OCCUPATION:.................................
YOUR PHONE
NUMBER:.............................
NOTE THAT IF YOU DID NOT SEND HIM
THE ABOVE INFORMATION COMPLETE, HE WILL NOT RELEASE THE CHEQUE TO YOU
BECAUSE HE HAS TO BE SURE THAT IT IS YOU.ASK HIM TO SEND YOU THE TOTAL
SUM OF (1.500,000,00)USD CASHIER\'S CHEQUE,WHICH I KEPT FOR YOU. NOTE
ALSO THAT I WILL NOT BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE FOr NOW BECAUSE I AM
CORRENTLY AWAY FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE WITH MY SHARE AND I WILL BE BUSY
TILL ABOUT SIX MONTHS TIME OR A YEAR.
NAME: Fedelex Collins
EMAIL:
(fedelex_collins@yahoo.ca)
REGARDS,
BARRISTER Jim peters

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam