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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:
  • "money transfer control number" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "Roland Vermeesch" <ikbal@erciyes.edu.tr>
Reply-To: roland_ver24@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:30:08 -0000
Subject: PAYMENT DETAILS AS REQUESTED.



--
I had to drop by on this kinkos store to email you and let you know that I
have made the payment as requested but via Western Union in your name as
I do not have your account details correctly.

Please have the payment information below:
Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN): 876-843-0922
Amount Sent: $187,000 USD
Text Question: Favourite Colour?
Answer: White

You can go to any Western Union location right now and pick up the cash
quickly. I hope that you have a Western Union card? You will need this to
send or claim amount above $12,000 USD from any Western Union agent
location.

My company will be sending my team to Chile this week.

I am on my way to join my team in completing the bridge construction
project in Chile. We may leave town tomorrow and I couldn't go without
dropping the payment information with you. We may spend 2 to 3 months
there before the job would be completely finished.

Remember that if you do not claim the money before 9 days, they will call
back the money to my card. And if you do not have the Western Union
Promo/Gold Card, you cannot pick up the cash.
I may not be around to reply any of your emails now, but I will talk to
you as soon as I return.
If you do not have a Western Union card, you may contact the western union
agent details below so that they will provide a Western Union card for you
immediately and also send you a copy of the voucher of the payment that I
made, via email.

Contact the office below for your Western Union card and for any
assistance you may need:

Contact Person: Bill Anthony
Email: bill_anthony@live.com
Send the below details to him
Your Full Name:
MTCN number: (as above)
Telephone:
Address: (including state and zip code)

As soon as the office gets the above information, they will use the
credentials to create your Western Union card right away without any
delay.
That is all to it. I hope to talk to you as soon as we are back on the
errand or call it project.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam