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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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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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "please indicate your willingness" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "trunk boxes" (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)
• 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.
  • +447045798665 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • oshkosh_2008@london.com

Fraud email example:

From: Mr BROWN WILLIAMS <waco_h@yahoo.ca>
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:57:48 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: PLEASE NOTIFY ME OF THIS MAIL.


From: Mr. Brown Williams .
Director of Operation.
Trust Security company
Private phone: +44 7045 798665
E-mail: oshkosh_2008@london.com

Attn: my dearest One,

I have a proposal for you, this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will, I contact you today for a business proposal, which will go a long way in creating mutual business relationship between us now and in future. My name is Mr. George Williams , chief inspection and vault officer of Trust Security Company here in London. During my inspection of consignments which was deposited for more than Two years without claims, I found out during my scanning process that one of the deposited Trunk boxes in our Vault by a German national Mr. Hanns Joubert contains United states of American dollars, and Gold dust when I went through the records, I discovered that the declared content value is $4.8m.
However, though this Mr. Hanns Joubert is owing our company for Two years storage cost, and effort to locate him or his relations proves negative and very soon, this consignment will be confiscated by our company. I am humbly writing to you, so that you can come down and claim this consignment (money) as his relative so that we can share it. Remember, I will give/inform to you all the necessary procedures, which you will use so that this claim will be made perfectly.
After successful claims you shall benefit 40% of the total sum of the money. Please indicate your willingness to participate in this transaction to me through my telephone or email address above. I will give you full informations immediately i receive your reply and your full contact informations. PLEASE SEND ME MAIL TO MY MOST PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS ABOVE FOR MY SECURITY AND THE SECURITY OF THIS TRANSACTION.
Thank for your understanding.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Brown Williams

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam