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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
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states 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)
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • e-mail.ekeh_s@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "STEVE EKEH" <ekehsteve2@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:29:02 +0100
Subject: Urgent Business Project


MR STEVE EKEH.
DIRECTOR OF THE CONTRACT SECTION OF
TRANSPORT AND AVIATION,
LAGOS-NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA.

DEAR FRIEND,

I AM A DIRECTOR OF THE CONTRACT SECTION OF THE NIGERIAN TRANSPORT AND
AVIATION HEADQUARTERS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA.I WRITE BASED ON A
RECOMMENDATION FROM A RELIABLE SOURCE. BY VIRTUE OF MY POSITION IN THE
MINISTRY, MYSELF AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE BENEFICIARIES OF FUNDS IN THE
SUM OF$25,000,000.00(TWENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS).

THIS AMOUNT IS PRESENTLY AWAITING OFFSHORE REMITTANCE INTO FOREIGN ACCOUNT
SINCE IT COULD NOT BE PAID HERE DUE TO RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON CIVIL
SERVANTS REGARDING OWNERSHIP OF FOREIGN ACCOUNT. THIS AMOUNT IN QUESTION
($25,000,000.00) RESULTED FROM OVER INVOICED BILLS FROM CONTRACT EXECUTED BY
A FOREIGN FIRM IN MY MINISTRY TO THE TUNE OF $59,000,000.00 (FIFTY NINE
MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS). THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND THE
ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR HAS RECEIVED THE
$34,000,000.00(THIRTY FOUR MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) DUE TO HIM, WHILE
$25,000,000.00(TWENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) OVER INVOICED
SURPLUS IS NOW FLOATING IN A SUSPENSE ACCOUNT. IT IS AGAINST THIS BACKDROP
THAT I SEEK YOUR COOPERATION IN ACCOMODATING THIS FUND IN YOUR CUSTODY.FOR
YOUR PART IN HELPING US, MY COLLEAGUES AND I PROPOSE 20% OF THE TOTAL SUM TO
YOU, 70% FOR OURSELVES AND 10% FOR MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES ON BOTH SIDES LIKE
TELEPHONE AND FAX BILLS.

I ASSURE YOU THAT WE HAVE DONE OUR HOME WORK VERY WELL IN OTHER TO MAKE THIS
DEAL 100% RISK FREE. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS SAFE DEAL, PLEASE CONTACT
ME AT ONCE THROUGH E-MAIL.ekeh_s@yahoo.com THIS TRANSACTION IS EXPECTED TO
BE COMPLETED UNDER FIVE WORKING DAYS WITH YOUR COOPERATION AS
ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE MINISTERIAL DEPARTMENT IN CHARGE OF THE TRANSFERENCE
HAS BEEN CONCLUDED, IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME.

YOURS FAITHFULLY,
MR STEVE EKEH

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam