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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:

• 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:
  • "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)
  • ",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)
  • "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +447035975000 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • mikeellishbos@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MIKE ELLIS <dr.mikeelis00009@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mikeellishbos@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:22:54 +0000
Subject: Greetings From Group Finance Director



Greetings From Group Finance Director
H.B.O.S Plc Edinburgh EH3 9PE
website:www.hbosplc.com

Greetings To You My Dear,

I am Dr. Mike Ellis, Group Finance Director (H.B.O.S)
I understand that through Internet is not the best way
to link up with you because of the confidentiality which
the transaction demands. However, I have already sent you
this same letter one month ago but I am not sure if it did
get to you since I have not heard from you, hence my resending it again.

I discovered a dormant account in my office, as the Group director
with Halifax Bank of Scotland. It will be in my interest to transfer
this fund worth 15,000,000 million pounds in an account offshore.
If you can be a collaborator to this please
indicate interest immediately for us to proceed.

Your contact phone numbers and a copy of any physical identification via
email scan and name will be necessary for this effect.

You can reach me on,
Email:mikeellishbos@gmail.com,
Phone:+447035975000

Let me read from you soonest.
Regards and respect,
Dr. Mike Ellis
Group Finance Director
Halifax Bank of Scotland

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam