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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:
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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:
  • ",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)
  • "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)
  • "keep it 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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed <mamudyahmed_009@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mahmudyahmed@live.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:04:53 +0000
Subject: I PRAY THIS E-MAIL FINDS YOU WELL



My dear, I am Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmeda, the secretary to the Government of the Federation of Republic of Nigeria. Through the courtesy of business opportunity, I take liberty anchored on a strong desire to establish a long-lasting business relationship with you to write you this letter of request for business partnership which I hope you will give your urgent attention. Recently the Nigerian Government has endorsed the sum of $25,000,000.00.(Twenty-Five Milion United States Dollars) as a compensation grant to be paid to each of the families of the exptriates/foreign contractors(working in Nigeria) who died following the series of Militant attacks (http://www.cfr.org/publication/12920) in the Oil Rich Niger- Delta region of Nigeria. To this effect,as the secretary to the Government of the Federation,my office has been assigned with the responsibilty of compiling the list of the beneficiaries and submit to the presidency for endorsement and payment approval. I am therefore contacting you and seeking your partnership to transact a deal with you by adding your name as one of the beneficiaries of the Compensation Grant of $25,000,000.00.,hence after the transfer of this fund into your account,we shall share it in a ratio of 50/50. This transaction is hitch free and hundred percent safe both now and in future as I am here to direct you accordingly. In utmost confidentiality and trust I look forward to hearing from you soon.Do Contact me via my confidential e-mail address: (mahmudyahmed@live.com) Note: Even if you are not interested in this deal, please keep it confidential for the seek of the law. Alhaji Mahmud Yayale AhmedSecretary to the Government (SGF)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam