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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Duncan Newton <duncan_newton27@msn.com>
Reply-To: <duncan_newton@sify.com>
Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:47:13 +0000
Subject: Good arrangement.




Good arrangement.

My name is Duncan Newton, an Australian, based in London U.K. I work with a very established oil company here in London, name of company withheld for security reason’s. My boss is in charge of offshore remittance in this establishment. He asked me to seek your assistance for a transfer of (GB£7M) SEVEN MILLION POUNDS STERLING) to your account for further private investment.

This amount accrued from an over-invoiced contract awarded to a Chinese firm for the construction of an Oil Drilling stations in Berkshire London in 2006 The original value of the contract was (GBP £14M) but we manipulated the figure to read Twenty one Million pound sterling(£21M). The extra (£7M) is what we want to transfer to your account for our own personal use and investments.

Note that the nature of your job does not matter all modalities to effect the payment and subsequent transfer of this money have been worked out. This transaction is 100% risk free but requires 100 percent confidentiality. This is a golden opportunity, which must not be allowed to slip out of our hands as a result of any careless acts and utterances.

We chose you for this transaction because we believe that good friends can be discovered and businesses such as this cannot be realized without trust. You can be rest assured that your security has been considered before you were contacted at the end of the deal you will be compensated with 20% of the total sum, while the rest will be used in investments in a lucrative venture in your country. If you are interested in this deal, kindly get back to me with your full details including your private telephone. Should you be interested in this beneficial benefit proposal?

Please reply to alternative email: duncan.newton1@live.com

Thanks,
Duncan Newton

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam