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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
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• 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:
  • "million united states 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)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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.
  • +2348029980907 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Pavol Prokop <Pavol.Prokop@savba.sk>
Reply-To: ecowas55@googlemail.com
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:20:40 +0100
Subject: You Won $1,000,000.00 - Contact Mr David
(ecowas55@googlemail.com) For Claims


Dear Winner=2C This is to inform you that you have won a prize money of =
One Million United States Dollars=2C (=241=2C000=2C000=2E00) for the Yea=
r 2008 LotteryPromotion which is organized by ECOWAS DONATIONS 2008=2EEC=
OWAS DONATIONS=2C collects all the email addresses of=A0 people that are=
active online=2C among the millions that subscribed to the Internet=2Ew=
e only select five people every Year as our winners through electronic b=
alloting System without the winner applying=2CWe congratulate you forbei=
ng one of the people selected=2E To file for your claim=2Cyou are reques=
ted to contact the events Manager/Claims Department and send your winnin=
g Identification Numbers and the following informations=2EThese are your=
identification numbers=3A Batch Number=3AECW 09102XNReff Number=3AECW35=
447XNWinning Number=3AECW09788 Full Names=2CContact Address=2CMobile Tel=
ephone Number=2CCountry=2ECONTACT THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT=3AName=3AMr=2EDa=
vid MbekiTel=3A +234-8029-980-907E-mail=3A ecowas55=40googlemail=2Ecom

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam