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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  
• 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.
  • williams.alfarouk@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Alfarouk Williams" <alfaro06@gala.net>
Reply-To: alfaroukw95@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 22:25:53 +0000
Subject: From Williams Alfarouk/Appeal for Assistance.


From Williams Alfarouk/Appeal for Assistance.
Dearest One,
Greetings in the name of God. Am Williams Alfarouk from Sierra Leone. I am
writing you from Rep of Cote d'Ivoire where i Have been taking refugee after
the brutal war and Murder of my parents by the rebels during the renewed
Fighting in my country Sierra Leone. Because of the war my late Father sold
his shipping company and took me to a nearby country Cote d'Ivoire where he
deposited US$18, 300,000.00 Million(Eigtheen Million Three Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars) in his foreign account with one of the bank here in
Cote 'Ivoire. Please, I am writing to you because of the way he deposited
this fund. He said to me that unless i find a foreign partner will the bank
release the fund for me and that is why i have come in contact with you.
With the trust in God that you will help me resure my inheritant out of the
bank costudy. I have prayed before contacting you with the trust in God that
you will be of help to me with the current political situation in Ivory
Coast now, am seeking for your honest assistance to transfer this money to
your account for a good investment project in your country and also relocate
to your country to further my study. I am willing to offer you 20% of the
total sum for Your assistance. Please for your good information this
transaction Is 100% risk free and in no way connected with any illegal
transaction, Please help me to get out of this terrible situation and my
Almighty God will bless you Please kindly get back to me through my private
email (williams.alfarouk@yahoo.com) for urgent response or call me through
my private phone +22508861736 for more discussions. If you accept to be of
help.
Best Regards
Williams Alfarouk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam