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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!
  
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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 - that's what the scam is about)
  • "million us 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)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: alex zandi <zandialex@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2005 05:26:28 -0800 (PST)
Subject: A CRY FOR HUMBLE HELP


DEAR SIR,

FIRST AND FOREMOST,I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST
CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION AND I PRAY THAT MY
DECISION TO CONTACT YOU WILL BE GIVEN GENUINE
APPROVAL CONSIDERING THE FACTS WE HAVE NOT KNOWN EACH
OTHER BEFORE, I WISH TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU.

I AM ALEX ZANDI. FROM SIERRA-LEONE WEST
AFRICA. I WRITES TO INFORM YOU MY DESIRE TO INVEST,AND
TO BUY A LIVING HOUSE IN YOUR COUNTRY. I AM THE SECOND
SON OF MR. MICHEAL ZANDI HE WAS A DIAMOND MERCHANT
IN MY COUNTRY.MY FATHER HAD A BULLET SHOT BY THE
REBELS ON HIS WAY TRAVELLING TO LUSIA A CITY AFTER
FREETOWN THE CAPITAL ALONG WITH MY ELDER BROTHER.MY
BROTHER DIED ON THE SPOT WHILE U.N.PEACE KEEPING FORCE
RESCUED MY FATHER,HE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL
TREATMENT WHICH HE LATER DIED ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW.

BEFORE HE DIED HE REAVEALED TO ME AND MY MOTHER ABOUT
THE BOXES CONTAINING $ 22 MILLION US DOLLARS.WHICH HE
DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN COTE DIVOIRE FOR SAFE
KEEPING. MY FATHER DID NOT DISCLOSE THE CONTENT OF THE
BOXES TO THE SECURITY COMPANY.TO AVIOD THE OFFICIALS
FROM RAISING EYE BROWS TO THE FUNDS. PRESENTLY MYSELF
AND MY MOTHER ARE HERE IN COTE DIVOIRE TO NOTIFY THE
SECURITY COMPANY FOR THE CLAIMS,AND WE ARE STAYING IN
THE REFUGEE CAMP.

THEREFORE I WANT YOU TO LECTURE ME ON HOW BEST WE CAN
INVEST THIS MONEY,BECAUSE MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT IT IS
DANGEROUS TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN AFRICA TO AVIOD
SUSPICIONS,AND DUE TO MARKET INSTABILITY
COUPLED WITH ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY FACING
AFRICAN COUNTRIES,THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO INVEST IN
ABROAD.

FOR YOUR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, MYSELF AND MY MOTHER HAVE
AGREED TO OFFER YOU 10%OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE
MONEY.WE HAVE ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS COVERING THE
DEPOSIT AND THE OWNERSHIP WHICH I CAN SEND TO
YOU THROUGH FAX ON REQUEST.

NOTE:I HAVE NEVER DISCLOSED THIS TO ANY PERSON APART
FROM YOU,SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION AS A TOP
SECRET TO YOURSELF ALONE.WHICH I WILL WANT YOU TO
FORWARD ACROSS TO ME YOUR DIRECT TEL/FAX NUMBER FOR
MORE INFORMATIONS ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION.

BEST REGARDS,
ALEX ZANDI
(FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY)










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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam