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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
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2289030758 (Togo, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • frank_freeman@zwallet.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Frank Freeman" <frank_freeman9@msn.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 18:44:46 +0000
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE

FROM THE DESK OF FRANK FREEMAN
AUDITING DEPARTMENT
BANK OF AFRICA.
LOME TOGO
TEL.00228 90 30758
Altanative email frank_freeman@zwallet.com

Dear Friend,

I got your address via the internet. I have a proposal for you this however
is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your
will.

I am 49, and had worked with a bank (one of the African leading banks in the
West Coast). Here in this bank existed a dormant account for the past 8
years which belong to a Syria national who is now late.

After discussing my view and your profile with my colleagues,they were very
much satisfied and decided to contact you immediately for this mutual
business relationship.

When we discovered that there had been no deposits nor withdrawals from this
account for this long period, I and my two other colleagues decided to carry
out a system investigation and discovered that non of the family member nor
relations of the late Syrian is aware of this account.

This is the story in a nutshell.
Now we want an account overseas where we can transfer this funds.
Thereafter, we had planned to destroy all related documents for this
account. It is a careful network and for the past eleven months we have
worked out everything to ensure a hitch-free operation.

The amount is not so much at the moment and plus all the accumulated
interest the balance in this account stands at-US$9.5 million US dollars.
Now our questions are:-

1. Can you handle this project?

2. Can we give you this trust?

3. can you sponsor this project? if so,
What will be your commission?

Consider this and get back at us as soon as possible.

Finally, it is our humble prayer that the information as contained herein be
accorded the necessary attention,
urgency as well as the secrecy it deserves.

We Expect your urgent response if you can handle this project. Call me at
this direct line +228 9030758 after sending a mail for confirmation.


Respectfully yours,
MR Frank Freeman

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam