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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
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348083799181 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "charles Douglas" <charlesdouglas05@fastwebmail.it>
Reply-To: charlesdouglas1000@jmail.co.za
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 03:18:12 -0700
Subject: FROM CHARLES,URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED


FIDELITY BANK OF NIGERIA PLC,
LAGOS-NIGERIA

Dear,

I am Charles Douglas of the above address, from Nigeria. I hope you will not
be embarrassed with this mail since there is no previous relationship prior
to this message. I need your urgent assistance in this transaction of mutual
benefit. I took great deal of my time to find a matching personality to fit
in.

This has to do with the claim of US$35.5million currently deposited with our
bank.I am the Head, Private Banking and in charge of all big time customers
private Account. This money belongs to one Karim Barakat, from Syria, who
was a contractor to the FEDERAL MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATION before he died in
the WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING of 11th sept 2001 in New York USA.

The bank management and the Government has asked me to contact the Next of
Kin of Karim Bakarat or that l should credit back the money to the Federal
Government account. I therefore request that you assist me, presenting
yourself as the NEXT OF KIN to Karim Barakat and secure this money since all
my efforts to contact his relatives and associates has proved abortive.

At the conclusion of the business, you will be entitled to 50% of the total
sum. If you intend to assist please reply my mail and include your telephone
and fax numbers,your full name and address together with your bank details
which you have no money in it.
Note that the country you come from does not matter,you are qualified to
claim the funds.Very urgent.You can call me on my private phone
number;+234-80-8379-9181 for more details.I look forward to your earliest
reply.

My Regards
Mr.Charles Douglas

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam