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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
  
  
• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" 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.
  • ahmedhassan4010@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Ahmed Hassan" <pbash@csusm.edu>
Reply-To: ahmedhassan4010@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:04:36 -0700
Subject: Dispatch To Charity Home!!!

Dear Friend,
As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I
believe everyone will die someday. My name is AHMED HASSAN a merchant
in Dubai, in the U.A.E. I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer.It
has defiled all forms of medical treatment I was always hostile to people
and only focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared for.I
want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so,
I have decided to give alms to charity organizations, The last of my money
which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of Twenty One million
dollars $21,000,000,00 that I have with a
finance/Security Company abroad.I will want you to help me collect this
deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations.
I have set aside 25% for you and for your time.
EMAIL;ahmedhassan4010@hotmail.com

Yours Sincerely
Mr.Ahmed Hassan

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam