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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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.
  • +2348020939045 (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.
  • wertcoy03@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "pale walker" <walker_pale@klikni.cz>
Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 19:52:10 +0200
Subject: DEAR FRIEND


Dear sir,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this
mail meets you in a perfect condition. I am using this opportunity to thank
you for your great effort to our unfinished transfer of fund into your
account, due to some reasons which may not be necessary for discussing at
this point in time. But I want to inform you that I have successfully
transferred the fund out of my bank to someone-else account who was capable
to invest and assist me in this great venture.

Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness which you shown
me at the course of the transaction, I had decided to compensate you and
show my gratitude to you with the sum of $3.5 MILLION.

I have authorized the finance house where I deposited my money to issue you
international certified bank draft, cash able at your bank. My dear friend,
Without wasting much time, following various investment that i am into with
my other partners, you should therefore contact the finance house for the
collection of the certified bank draft. The name and contact address of the
finance house is as follows.

WERT SECURITIES & FINANCE co.
WEMA BANK RD, IKOYI, LAGOS-NIGERIA.
Telephone: +234-8020-939-045
Email; wertcoy03@yahoo.fr

In the moment, I'm very busy here because of t+he investment projects which
myself and my new partners are having at hand. Finally, remember that I have
forwarded instruction to the finance house on your behalf to send the bank
draft to you as soon as you contact them without delay. Please I will like
you to accept this grant with good faith as this is from the bottom of my
heart. You should contact the finance company immediately you receive this
email.

Thanks and God bless you and your family.

Regards,
Pale Walker

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam