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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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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:
  • "certified bank draft" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • inezehuza@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:11:19 +0100
Subject: Re: Have you contacted my secretary?


My dear,
=C2=A0=20
I am surprised that I am yet to hear from you after sending two consecuti=
ve mails to you. In the mails that I have been sending to you, I only wan=
ted to show my appreciation towards the successfull completion of the bus=
iness proposal I made to you sometime in the past which you were not able=
to finalise with me then. I succeeded through the assistance of my new b=
usiness partner. Currently I am out of the country with him on a business=
trip.
=C2=A0
However, I did not forget your past efforts in trying to help me complete=
the transaction which I still appreciate so much. In appreciation toward=
s your assistance, I wrote in your favour a certified bank draft worth th=
e sum of $950.000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dolla=
rs), payable to you only as my compensation. I left the bank draft with m=
y secretary which I instructed her to send to you once you contact her an=
d let her know how you want it sent to you.=20
=C2=A0
You are adviced to contact her immediately at her contact information bel=
ow:
=C2=A0
Mrs. Inez Ehuza.=20
Email: inezehuza@hotmail.fr
=C2=A0
Keep me updated as soon as you receive your bank draft and cash your mone=
y.=20
=C2=A0
Best Regards,=20
Macauley Ngize.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam