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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
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• 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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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 pounds" (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)
  • "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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <ppatterson84@yahoo.es>
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 09:12:49 +0000
Subject: INVERSION RE:5/11/2008



INVERSION RE:5/11/2008 Hello, My name is Mr. Paul Patterson, Regional Head of British Isles (Royal Bank of Canada Investment Management (UK) Limited). I am writing in respect of a Switzerland British Citizen customer of my bank by name Mr. Victor Ratnavale, who died together with his wife in a Plane crash on Monday 7th September 1998 GMT 14:22 UK while they were flying from New York to Geneva. Please see http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9809/swissair.victims.list/index.html for more information. The late Mr. Victor Ratnavale left in our bank the sum of Seven million five hundred thousand pounds (£7.5 million pounds) and nobody has ever come for this money because he died with his entire family. I am the only person that is aware of this money since Mr. Victor Ratnavale did not give to my bank any next of kin to inherit his money.And based on the recent comment of the Prime Minister.Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that some of the money held in dormant accounts would be used to fund youth and community projects for your confirmation please visit : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4017381.stm Now, I want to use my position in the bank to transfer this money to your country for investment. If you can provide me with an account where I can transfer this (Seven million five hundred thousand pounds) £7.5 million pounds. I will give you 40% of this entire fund while the remaining 50% shall be for me, extra 10% will be for transfer charges. I am hoping to get a favourable response from you.With Regards, MR. PAUL PATTERSON.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam