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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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)
  • "confidentiality of this transaction" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
• 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.
  • kenethokechukwu@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "keneth okechukwu" <kenethokechukwu@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 07 Jan 2006 23:56:40 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY

FROM MR. KENETH OKECHUKWU
EMAIL: kenethokechukwu@yahoo.com


My Dear

I am Mr. Keneth Okechukwu, a Nigerian citizen , and a personal assistant
to the late wife to the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria (Her
Excellency Mrs Stella obasanjo) who died on 23th Day of Octomber , 2005
after a successful surgeon at MOLDING CLINIC ,MARBELLA SPAIN.

Being her personal assistance and a very close relation to the late wife of
the President , I and Her Excellency made a deposit of a total sum of $6.5
Million United States Dollars in a security company in Madrid Spain before
going for the surgeon that eventually claimed her life.
I hereby seek for your assistance to receive this fund (6.5M USD) Six
million and five hundred united state dollars (cash) being the amount we
have lodged in a security company in Spain and I am in the position of the
deposit certificate that we received from the security company. The money is
now in the custody of the security company and it is kept in the security
company in form of personal valuable materials since it was moved out of
Nigeria through diplomatic means.

Note, that the box which contained the cash was perfectly padded and locked
with Security keys and only to be delivered as soon as I can provide where
it could be transferred , hence I personally want to move the money out of
Europe for security reasons.
I decided to seek this help through you so that I can present you as the
partner to Her Excellency (LATE MRS STELLA OBASANJO) before the security
company where the deposit was made , hoping that you will protect the
interest of this transaction and help me to invest the fund in your country
especially in the real estate business.
Now, I am in Spain to maintain the required confidentiality of this
transaction after the burial rite of her Excellency has been finally
performed.
Therefore, if you are willing to assist in this direction you should kindly
reach me on email kenethokechukwu@yahoo.com with assurance of your
trustworthiness, reliability and capability to handle this transaction.
Please bear in mind that your presence will be required here in Spain to
sign the release of the CASH CONSIGNMENT and I will be here to assist you
towards the process from the security company.
We will have to negotiate on the sharing ratio upon your reply. Please
handle with utmost secrecy and confidentiality.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,
Keneth Okechukwu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam