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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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• 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:
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2347095181921
• 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.
  • simbeta7@yahoo.co.in
  • infowesternuninomneytransfer@yahoo.co.jp (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?INTERNATIONAL=20MONETARY=20FUND?= <simbeta7@yahoo.co.in>
Reply-To: infowesternuninomneytransfer@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:01:53 +0530 (IST)
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!!


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: simbeta7@yahoo.co.in



- INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND,(IMF) LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL IMF PRIZE AWARD DEPT. ESP56674621907 23/12/2008 TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNER OF THIS EMAIL ADDRESS CONGRATULATIONS!!! This is to notify you that your e-mail has won .($850,000USD) in the 2008 IMF Sweepstakes Lottery. It is a computerized, Selection sponsored by International Monetary Fund to alleviate people's life. Raffle no: 56475600545 188 Serial No: 5388/02 Winning Number: 05-11-13-17-44-48-(25) To file for your claims. Your winning Price of Eight hundred and fifty thuosand usd.($850,000USD) has been forwarded to Western Union for immediate transfer to you as soon as you meet up with the demands of the transfer charge of $355. Contact: Sir John Booma Tel: +234-7095181921 Email( infowesternuninomneytransfer@yahoo.co.jp ) With your full name, phone number and country. Yours in Service. HERE IS THE INFORMATION TO MAKE THE PAYMENT. NAME: .............................. DAVID NWAORGU ADDRESS:........................ LAGOS-NIGERIA TEXT QUESTION:.............. MY HELP ANSWER:......................... COME FROM GOD AMOUNT EXPECTED:........ $355 AND DO NOT FORGET TO SEND THE MTCN. Thanks Mr. Simon Beta

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam