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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Isaac John" <samuelpatrick16@ig.com.br>
Reply-To: isac.john1@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:34:43 +0200
Subject: GOOD DAY TO YOU,


FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION: DEAR SIR/MADAM,


DATE: 23/06/2008
SIR

I AM SORRY IF I AM INTRUDING INTO YOUR PRIVACY BY CONTACTING YOU SINCE I DO
NOT KNOW YOU PHYSICALLY. THE FACT IS THAT I HAVE BEEN DIRECTED BY THE SPIRIT
OF HUMANITARIAN SERVICE TO YOU KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT YOU WILL RESPOND TO
THIS OFFER THAT I SHALL BE PUTTING FORWARD TO YOU.

COULD YOU PLEASE CONSIDER TO HELP ME TO RELOCATE THIS SUM OF FIFTHY
MILLION,THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS(US$50.3m) TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR
ESTABLISHING A MEDIUM SIZE INDUSTRY IN YOUR COUNTRY.

THE SAID 50.3 MILLION DOLLARS WAS DEPOSITED IN OUR BANK BY MRS JOYCE LAKE AN
AMERICA CITIZEN WHO DIED IN A PLANE CRASH IN 2000.WE HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT
HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY TO COME FORWARD FOR CLAIMS BUT COULD NOT SUCCEED.

WE DISCORVERED THAT THE LATE AMERICAN DIED ALONG SIDE WITH HER HUSBAND AND
CHILDREN WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HER NEXT OF KIN.

I WILL GIVE YOU ALL VITAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE AMERICAN AND THE
US$50.3MILLION DOLLARS IN OUR CUSTODY SO THAT YOU WILL CONTACT OUR BANK FOR
THEM TO RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU.

YOU CAN COME HERE IN PERSON OR YOU CAN REQUEST THE BANK TO SHIP THEFUNDS TO
YOU IN YOUR COUNTRY DIPLOMATICALLY.

I AM A MANAGER IN THIS BANK,I WILL PLAY A ROLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE50.3
MILLION DOLLARS IS RELEASED TO YOU. AS SOON AS I RECIEVE YOUR REPLY,I WILL
GIVE YOU A DRAFT APPLICATION WHICH YOU WILL FORWARD TO OUR BANK.

REPLY AND LET ME KNOW YOUR FULL NAME,AGE,ADDRESS,OCCUPATION, AND YOUR FAX
NUMBERS IF AVALIABLE.

I AWAIT FOR YOUR KIND REPLY.
REGARD,

MR.ISAAC JOHN.
TELE:00229 93 47 51 17.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam