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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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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Dispatch Project" <dispatchproject02@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dispatchproject01@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:35:35 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION


FROM THE DESK OF THE
BANK BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF ATM CARD DEPARTMENT.

Attn: Beneficiary,

Sequel to the meeting with our newly elected president, Alhaji. Umaru Musa
Yaradua, we were instructed to pay all our contractors and their next of
kin. Your name appeared in our system here as one of the beneficiary.

We want to inform you that your payment verification and confirmations
through ATM CARD is confirmed from our correspondent bank in USA (usa bank).


Therefore, we are happy to inform you that an arrangement has perfectly been
concluded to effect your payment as soon as possible in our bid to be
transparent.

However, it is our pleasure to inform you that your ATM Card Number;4000
0034 5678 9119 has been approved and upgraded in your favor.

Meanwhile, your Secret Pin Number will be available as soon as you confirm
to us the receipt of your ATM CARD.

The ATM Card Value is $7.2 Million USD Only. You are advised that a maximum
withdrawal value of US$10,000.00 is permitted daily.

And we are duly inter-switched and you can make withdrawal in any location
of the ATM Center of your choice/nearest to you any where in the world.

We have also concluded delivery arrangement with our accredited courier
service Company to oversee the delivery of the ATM Card to you without any
further delay.

So you are hereby advice to forward to this office your names in full and
your receiving mailing address and also your private telephone number for
easy communication to enable us
proceed without any further delay.

We will appreciate your urgent response.

Thanks, your understanding.

Yours Sincerely
ELDER RICHARD THOMAS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam