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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • w_gouna04@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Williams Gouna <w_gouna04@yahoo.ca>
Reply-To: wg1@live.fr
Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 03:18:29 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: DON'T IGNORE THIS MESSAGE


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: w_gouna04@yahoo.ca



- Attn: With due Respect, I crave your indulgence as i contacted you in such a surprising manner. But I respectfully insist that you read this letter carefully as I am optimistic it will open doors for unimaginable financial rewards for both of us. I am Williams Gouna, Personal attorney to Late Eng. A. Raymond, an expatriate oil consultant, herein after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April, 2002, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along Karra-Sokode expressway while arriving from a Holiday to Lome . All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then, I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives and this has proved unsuccessful. I am contacting you to assist me in claiming the sum of US$9.5 million, which the deceased deposited with a Security Company here in Lome-Togo for safekeeping before it gets confiscated or declared an abandon property by the Security compan!
y where this huge amount was deposited. He accumulated this fund from an onshore Oil engineering Servicing award. The said money was packed in cash in a trunk box and deposited under special diplomatic coverage as family valuables (a category of deposit in which a customer's consignment will never open for inspection).Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the real relatives, I therefore seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the proceed of the deposit box can be release and delivered to your postal address (doorstep).You will be required to provide your full address where the mentioned consignment will be transferred/delivered. Upon your acceptance of this proposal, the information of the Security Company will be forwarded to you so that you establish contact with them and inform them of your readiness to claim the deposit consignment with them. Every secret information relating to the deposit will be given to you which you shall u!
se to identify yourself as the next of kin to my late client. Please c
onact me as soon as possible. On receipt of your positive response,we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for the transfer. Send your personal telephone and fax numbers for easy communication.Yours, Sincerely Williams Gouna Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam