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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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 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)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • gregpujeh25@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "martha pujeh" <marthapujeh5_m@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 23:11:00 +0000
Subject: GREETINGS



My dear,

Thank you for taking the time to read this mail. My name is Mrs. MARTHA
PUJEH, from Diamond rich country district of Bombali in Northern Province of
Sierra Leone. I am the widow of the Late Mr. MOMOH PUJEH, the managing
director of Sierra Leone diamond mining co-operation. I am currently living
in a refugee center in London, UK.My family and I have been unfortunate to
find ourselves caught up in a very difficult situation in London. I know you
will be surprise to receive this message, but it is of utmost importance to
me and my family.

Anyway, I am about to entrust my destiny and the destiny of my whole
dependants on your shoulder if you can help us, it will also beof immense
benefit to you too. This transaction demands utmost trust,honesty, integrity
and most important, secrecy. It is only through theabove that my family and
I will be assured of our security.Thisregrettable situation led to the
killing of my husband and only daughterand the displacement of my family.

During the brutal civil war in my country Sierra Leone, my late husband of
blessed memory was brutally murdered by the rebels led by Mr. Foday
Sankoh,he was murdered with my only daughter (Nina). But my two sons (Greg &
Daniel) and I managed to escape to UK, through the help of the International
Rescue Committee (IRC).

But before my late husband's death, he drew my attention to a box containing
about twelve million US dollars ($12 Million) which he smuggled out at the
start of the war to a security company in Spain,Europe. (The security
company does not know the real contents of the box. He registered it in the
name of my son Greg Koroma as family art and monuments) He also gave me the
certificate of deposit and receipt issued to him by the security company,
which I still have in my possession.

The problem I have is that as a refugee, the immigration law does not allow
us to open or hold operate bank account in London and I do not want to seek
the assistance of just anybody for fear of being duped or defraud of our
only livelihood, I have sold almost all my jewelries to keep body and soul
together, hence the British Government is not really taking care of us.

What is required of you is to give us your full name,telephone and fax
numbers and contact address so that I can secure a Power of Attorney in your
favour that would enable you contact the security company as the beneficiary
of the box. You can then transfer the funds to your bank account after the
box must have been released to you. In order to make it worth your while, we
will give you part of the money. We have also map out 5% of the principal
sum
for any expenses that you may incurred during the transaction process which
includes your traveling expenses, we intend to invest the remaining part of
the money on your advice in any lucrative business ventures in your country,
you may even act as our financial adviser if you are so disposed.

If you want to help, you can contact my son Greg Pujeh who recently got a
job in one of the local firms here in London on his email address
(gregpujeh25@yahoo.co.uk) I am looking forward to your immediate response,
as I believe that destiny has brought us together.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs. Martha Pujeh

Please visit the following web pages for further information on the
SierraLeone war.
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sl.html
http://www.hrw.org/reports98/sierra/
http://www.refugees.org/news/crisis/sierraleone/sierraleone_photos.htm
http://www.theirc.org/Sierra%20Leone/
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/sankoh1.html

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam