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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:
  • "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)
  • "with absolute secrecy" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Christian Kabila <kaumu@msn.com>
Reply-To: <ka_umu1@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:19:48 +0000
Subject: Reply Asap



Greetings,
I apologize if the contents hereunder are contrary to your moral ethics. But please treat with absolute secrecy and personal. I discovered a dormant account in my office, as Group finance director with Imperial Bank of London It will be in my interest to transfer this fund worth Thirty Six Million United state dollars. ($36,000,000) in an account offshore.

If you can be a collaborator/partner to this please indicate interest immediately for us to proceed. Remember this is absolutely confidential, as I am seeking your assistance as the beneficiary of this unclaimed fund since we are not allowed to operate a foreign account.

Your contact phone numbers and name will be necessary for this effect, I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint me. We shall share the fund on the bases of 50% each at the end of the deal.My RegardsChristian Victor

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam