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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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• What can you do when you receive 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.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a "New Partner from Paraguay" scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • bright_peterson03@hotmail.fr

Fraud email example:

From: thomas.guettler@freenet.de
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:55:50 +0200
Subject: Dear Friend,


Dear Friend,
I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting
that fund transferred. Now I want you to contact my secretary and ask
him for a cheque worth of USD$950.000.00 which I kept for you as a
compensation of your past assistance to me. His contact details is
below;
Name/ Mr. Bright Peterson
Email/
bright_peterson03@hotmail.fr
Phone/ (+229)9300-6876
Kindly reconfirm
to him the following below information:
Your full
name__________________
Your address___________________
Your
country____________________
Your age_______________________
Your
occupation_________________
Your direct Phone number_________
Note that
if you did not send him the above information complete, he will not
release the cheque to you because he has to be sure that it is you. Note
also that I will not be reached by email or phone at this moment because
I am currently in Australia for investment trip with my share.

Regards,
Dr. Thomas.Guettler

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam