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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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• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: jonathanbarack1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:09:12 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Please Reply


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: barack_jonathan@yahoo.in



- Dear Friend, My name is Dr. Jonathan Barack. I hail from the Republic of Ghana and I am married with kids. I am a top Government official and I will disclose everything to you in due time. My reason for writing you is that I want to buy a House in your Country. A House that will have adequate ventilation, enough parking space with a small love garden, a compound fully equipped with facilities necessary for a comfortable family life, apartments for rent. These properties should cost between the range of $1,500,000.00 and $2.5m USD. I want you to help me in looking for one so that I will buy. You can necessarily involve a lawyer to guarantee legitimacy but as a top Government official, this must be kept very confidential. Waiting to hear from you soonest. Yours sincerely, Dr. Jonathan Barack.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam