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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:

• 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:
  • "million united state 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • john2smith35@yahoo.de (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.John Smith" <john2smith26@yahoo.de>
Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 09:10:35 +0100
Subject: Dearest


Dearest

Please, I want to introduce myself and this business opportunity to you.

My name is Mr John Smith, a bank accountant,I will need your assistance in
this business transaction.I would like you to stand as the next of kin to my
deceased customer,Mr William Barnes, who died in a plane crash with Egyptian
Airline 990 as you can see from the website below;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/world/americas/502503.stm:

He was a wealthy oil merchant who made a deposit of Thirty Million United
State Dollars ($30,000,000.00) with our bank.He died without any registered
next of kin and as such the funds now have an open beneficiary mandate. If
you are interested please do let me have your private telephone number so
that I can give you comprehensive details on what we are to do.

Send me the following information:

1. Your Full name :
2. Your private secured telephone number :
3. Your occupation :
4. Your home or office address :

I urgently hope to get your response as soon as possible through my private
email: john2smith35@yahoo.de

Best Regards,
John Smith


________________________________________________________________
Message sent using CWCS Webmail

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam