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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
  (+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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "trunk box" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "trunk boxes" (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)
  • "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)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • mrsmariekeita@myway.com

Fraud email example:

From: "MrsMarie Keita" <mrsmariekeita@msn.com>
Reply-To: mrsmariekeita@myway.com
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 16:23:47 +0000
Subject: Soliciting For Your Assistance

FROM MRS.MARIE KEITA
ABIDJAN - COTE D'IVORE
E-MAIL+ {mrsmariekeita@myway.com}

Attn,

With the best compliments of the year, I wish to solicit your help in
migrating to your country and investing my funds.

I am a Sierra Leonean National and the wife of late Dr. Silas Keita.

Until his death, my husband was the General overseer of the Gold and Diamond
Mining Corporation in Kanema Sierra Leone. On April 6 2001 the military
forces loyal to the Government of Ahmed TIJAN KABBAH invaded the Diamond and
Gold mine and assassinated my husband,mistaking him for his brother MIKE
KEITA who is the deputy to the leader of the revolutionary United Front (RUF
) FODAY SANKOH.

When the news reached me, I hurriedly gathered some valuables in our family
villa and escaped for my dear life in the company of my only son SIMON.

Among the valuables was a file that contained details of a Deposit my
husband made in a security company in Abidjan.


He deposited US$12.5M (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S Dollars)
contained in 2 Trunk boxes in the name of our son SIMON.

He did not disclose the real contents of the Trunk Boxes to the Security
Company as he Declared the contents as Family Valuables for security
reasons.

This is the money he made from the sale of Gold and diamonds during his time
as the General overseer.

Now that we are in the refugee camp in Abidjan and verified the transaction,
we need your assistance to move this funds out of security company for
investment in your country as we cannot invest here due to its nearness to
our country and the insecurity still going on there. We ask you to scout for
a viable and lucrative business so that we can invest wisely.

We have it in mind to give you 20% of the total sum (12.5 million US
Dollars), and 25% share in any investment we will embark upon if you assist
us. We will also set aside 5% of the funds for ancillary expenses which you
will make in course of this transaction ( fax messages, phone calls, air
tickets etc).This fortune of ours we have revealed to you should remain
CONFIDENTIAL as it only you who we have told about it.

Kindly indicate your interest and willingness to assist us on receipt of
this message for for us to clarify you on how to proceed. Note that this
transaction is risk free. May the shelter and care of God be upon you as you
assist us.
Remain blessed.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs.Marie/Simon Keita

NB;PLEASE SEND YOUR RESPONSE TO MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS:
{mrsmariekeita@myway.com}

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam