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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:
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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "trunk box" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • somich43@latinmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Sonia Michael" <sonia4mich@netscape.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: somich43@latinmail.com
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2006 01:18:46 +0100
Subject: PERSONAL LETTER

Dearest one.

Actually I did not want to discuss this matter with you before but after fasting and prayer I just decided to contact you for your help, please I real need your help.

I am 20 years old girl. I leave alone because I don't want the people who killed my late Father, to kill me too.
I will be very happy if you promised me that you will keep this secret until this money arrival your care in your country.

My late Father deposited one trunk of box with a security company here before his dead and because of situation of political crisis here that led to war going on here in my country, I need some body that I will trust to come in and help me claim this consignment out from the company for the safety of my property that was deposited under there custody.

Please I am contacting you for your assistance, to help me because I don't have anyone in here to help me and I don't have money to travel from here to any country please I need your assistance to stand by me and help me to transfer the box to your for future investment.

You will contact the security company as SONIA MICHAEL foreign partner who want to help me and claim the box that was deposited by my late Father DR. DANE MICHAEL from Republic of sierra Leone.

My late Father did not declared the real content of the box to the security company officials.

He only told them that the box is containing family valuables.
You are the only person I have sent this message across to.

I will like you to keep the secret until this box arrive your country.
You have to promise me that you will not betray me when this box is under your care.

I will send the documents and the security company contact to you once you accept to help me. You have to give me your private phone and fax number to enable me to send the documents to you.

The money inside the trunk box is Twenty two Millions Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($22.3 Millions Dollars).

I will offer you 10% for the total sum of amount, if you help me and claim this box from the security company.

You will also provide investment programme where the money will be invested properly when it arrival your hand safely.

I wait to hear from you.

May God bless you.
Sonia Michael.( somich43@latinmail.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam