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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
  (+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
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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "comfort lamine" <comfortlamine@klikni.cz>
Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 05:43:48 +0000
Subject: FROM: MRS.COMFORT LAMINE.


FROM: MRS.COMFORT LAMINE.
CHICAGO AVE. ZONE 4,
ABIDJAN - COTE D'IVOIRE.

I am Mrs. COMFORT LAMINE, a widow to late GENERAL SIMON LAMINE from
Sierra-Leone with a chronic renal insufficiency case, a kidney decease and I
am presently putting up in a guest house with my son (Simon Jr.) here in
Abidjan.
I want to inform you of an urgent assistance I need from you and if you can
not assist fully, I will like you to please source a trustworthy person to
receive a certain deposit I inherited from my late husband for an
investment.
My late husband deposited the sum of (US$ 10.5 million) in cash, packaged in
one metallic box with a Security Firm here in Abidjan before his death while
in service as a General in the Army in my home country but before his death,
he handed me over all the documents relating to the deposit of the box with
security company.

Consequently, I and my son Michael has come to this place and have located
the security company and it is time for us to claim the box and have the
money moved abroad. I therefore want to use you as my late husband's foreign
associate to receive this money in your country for investment so that my
son can continue his education while I am properly administered medically
abroad.

Meanwhile, I will like you to urgently indicate your willingness to me so
that I can furnish you the details & related documents of the deposit with
the security company for your perusals and confirmation to enable you
contact the security company for the claim of the treasure. Because of my
ill health, I am mostly bedridden in the hospital on renal dialysis.

I will like you to reply or call me immediately so that I can detail you
accordingly concerning this and the next step to take, please note that you
will be compensated accordingly for assisting me and my son to successfully
moving this money out of this country for the investment in your country,
Bear in mind that 20% of the total sum will be disbursed to your person
inform of compasation and in case of any other necessary expense you might
incure during this transaction.
Hope to hear from you, urgently. May God bless you.

Mrs. Comfort Lamine / Simon Jr.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam