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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: desmond <desmond3gh2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: des3gh-01@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:41:35 +0100
Subject: CHECK YOUR MAIL


GOOD DAY,

AND I ALSO WISH YOU THE REST HAPPINESS OF THE DAY, SIR WHEN I

DISCOVER YOUR DIRECT CONTACT I WAS OVER WEHM WITH JOY BUT I AM NOT AWARE OF
THE BRAIN BEHIND THAT, BUT NEVERTHELESS I KNOW YOU HAVE ALL IT ENTAILS TO
ASSIST ME AND MY YOUNGER SISTER. SIR, YOU ARE REALY GOD SENT TO ME AND MY
ONLY YOUNGER SISTER.OUR FATHER DIED LONG AGO AND BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY IN A
PRIVATE HOSPITAL IN ABIDJAN HE CALLED ME AND MY SISTER TO HIS BED SIDE AND
TOLD US THAT HE HAD A CONSIGNMENT WHAT OF $US45M WHICH HE DEPOSITED IN A
SECURITY COMPANY IN GHANA, ALSO PRIOR TO HIS DEATH HE ASK US TO SEEK FOR A
FOREIGN PARNER TO AVOID FALLING INTO WRONG HAND.

MOREOVER, HE ALSO ADMORNISHED TO ASK THE FOREIGN PARTNER AFTER THE
SUCCESSFULL TRANSFER TO SEEK FOR RESIDENTIAL PERMIT TO ENABLE US CONTINUE
WITH OUR EDUCATION, HE ALSO DISCLOSED TO US THAT THE SECURITY COMPANY HAVE
NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUNK BOX.

MY FATHER WAS POISENED BY HIS ASSOCIATE AND EVER SINCE HIS DEATH WE HAVE
BEEN IN GROSE PREDICREMENT.MY FATHER WAS A PARAMOUNT CHIEF IN GRAND GEDEH,
THE CAPITAL OF LIBERIA FROM 1980 TO 1996, HE WAS A WEALTHY GOLD AND DIAMOND
MERCHANT AND DIED IN THE YEAR 1998.

SIR, WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU NOW IS TO COME DOWN TO GHANA AND HAVE THIS FUND
RELEASED FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY AND WE ARE READY TO OFFER YOU AFTER THE
SUCCESSFULL TRANSFER 25% OF THE TOTAL SUM.AS YOU MAY HAVE IT AM 23 YEARS OF
AGE WHILE MY SISTER IS 20.

MY FATHER ADVICED US TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN THE BENEFICIARY'S COUNTRY AND
OUR INTRESTED AREA OF INVESTMENT ARE {1} REAL ESTATE {2} PETROLIUM INDUSTRY
AND HOTELS.SIR YOU KINDLY ACT ACCORDING TO YOUR NAME {GOD SENT}.I AWAIT YOUR
RESPONESE.

BEST REGARD,

DESMOND,

KEN

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam