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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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 - that's what the scam is about)
  • "trunk box" (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 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.
  • aliahmed@ourwest.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Ali Ahmed" <aliahmed101@msn.com>
Reply-To: Aliahmed101@ourwest.com
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2006 17:40:45 +0000
Subject: REQUEST FOR URGENT ATTENTION

DEAREST,

I write to intimate you of a matter that requires an urgent attention. But
briefly, I am Ali ahmed, the first son of late Dr Abdul A. Ahmed whom was
the chairman/CEO of the Sierra-Leone national Gold & Diamond Mining
Corporation.

It is my pleasure communicating with you for the first time and believing
that it will lead to a better relationship between us. I also hope you will
not impede this trust and confidence I repose in you.I send this letter from
burkina faso where I have an official refugee status with my mother after
leaving our country due to an event that took place on Febuary 2001 which
led to the arrest and detention of my father and six other men after a face
off with the Sierra-Leone government on allegation of subversive activities
and treasonable offences which was nothing but a mere political persecution.

After five months in the military detention camp my father was announced
dead by the government special press release. Though I do not know to what
extent you are familiar with the event and crisis in Sierra-Leone, however
during the disturbance and prior to my father's death he gave me all the
documents for the secret deposit he made in a security company in burkian.
The deposit is US$ 11 Million US Dollars, he made the deposit in one trunk
box(cash), but the real content of the box was not disclosed to the security
company officials as this was deposited as personal effect.(for security
reasons)

However I have gone to the security company to confirm the deposit and
establish ownership, please I need your assistance urgently in moving this
fund abroad for investment, when the fund is properly secured we will
jointly invest in any business you consider profitable.

WHY I NEED YOUR ASSIST.
My father came to deposit this 'box' with my mother at Security company here
in burkina faso, on june 2000,he told them that it was for his foreign
partner without giving somebody's identity as his partner.He intended to
send out this box.He did'nt disclose also the content to the Company,(for
security reasons)he just told them it was jewellries.But this contains the
amount i mentioned,( USD11,000,000.00 )cash. Since my father is late, and as
the only son,i went to claim the box.The Company told me that my father
deposited this box for a foreign partner.That i should look for my father's
partner and ask him to call them for further instructions,for either to
release or retain.But there is nobody actually as his partner,he just said
this when he deposited this box as a disguise so that he will later make his
final arrangement to either send it out or,collect it to pay into any local
bank here for transfer.But unfortunately death knocked on his door.May his
soul rest in Peace!!!.

I will be glad for your resolved assistance, I will kindly appreciate if we
can talk and emerge words with action. With all honesty to the stated data
in my message,i assure you of the genuity of this proposal. I will
particularly be happy if you can handle this transaction in the most
confidential manner since the rest of my life solely depends on this fund.

It is the fear of betrayal from anyone around us here that confirms my
decision to contact a neutral individual like you, and I want you to educate
me on investment potential in your country since I would not like to invest
or stay here in Burkina-Faso with my sick mother,except otherwise.

We will not hesitate to give you 20% or negotiable of the total sum for your
assistance. So if you will be able to assist me and my mother, please do
urgently reply me for further clarification and confirmation and in order to
stop further contacts.
Thank for your anticipated co-operation. Show your interest by replying back
to my new email address; Aliahmed@ourwest.com
May God bless you.

Your Sincerely,
Ali Ahmed

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam