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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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 will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million dollars" (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)
  • "urgent assistance" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • wisdom_mimi@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: wisdom/mimi elevis <wisdom_mimi21@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: <wisdom_mimi@myway.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2007 08:56:19 +0000
Subject: I am Wisdom Elevis



Dearest, Good day,We are Wisdom and Miracle Elevis from Sierra Leone. We are writing you from Rep of Cote d'Ivoire where we have been taking refuge after the brutal war and murder of our beloved parents by the rebels during the renewed fighting in our country. Because of the war our late Father sold his shipping company and deposited US$ 13,Million Dollars in an account with one of the banks here in Cote d'Ivoire. due to political situation in Ivory Coast now, we need your urgent assistance to assist us transfer this money to your account and also relocate to your country to further our study and we are willing to offer you 20% of the total sum for your help. Please, i will like you to mail us with our email address: wisdom_mimi@myway.com or you call me on my phone for more discussion. Wisdom and Mimi ElevisTel: +22509445114
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam