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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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.
  • sherifatu001@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "Mis Shearifatu Shittu" <sherifatu12@yahoo.fr> (may be fake)
Reply-To: sherifatu002@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 18:01:49 +0000
Subject: I Need Your Assistance Plz

Dear Friend,

I Hope This Mail Meets You In Good Health And Spirit, I Am, Mis Shearifatu Shittu, from Cote-Ivory Abidjan. Presently, I Live As A Refugee In republic of senegal dakar ,
With My Younger Brother Bello Shittu I Am A Victim Of War And The Douigther Of Late Chief Dr.Shittu .Ahamed The Assassinated Former Assistant Director Of
Cote-Ivory Abidjan coco Mining Corporation director.

My Father Was Killed With Other Government Officials During Official Hours When The Rebel Troops Stormed And Raided The Mining Corporation Office At The Heat Of
The Crisis In My Country. A Few Weeks Later, The Rebels Also Invaded Our Residential Building In Which My Mother And Two Of Our Security Men Were Killed In The
Compound While I Was Out For A Special Research Program And My Younger Borther Was In School.

I Had A Singular Shock And Trauma, Which Compelled Us To Flee From The Country To republic of senegal dakar By The Help Of An Army Colonel, Who Is A Close Friend
Of My Late Father, I Have First Degree In Marketing And Would Have Further My Education If Not For The Death Of My Parents. I Have Never Worked To Earn My Living
Since My Late Parents Had Enough Wealth For Us.I Am Contacting You Now Because Of The Present Difficulty I Am Facing.

Unfortunately My Father's Two Accounts In West Africa Have Recently Been Frozen.However This Did Not Affect The (Us$ 8,600,000), Which He Kept In a security company
in senegal dakar.

For Now, I Am Having Every Information And Document Needed For The Clearance Of The Money In The security company Here In senegal dakar And I Want You To Act As
The Beneficiary Of The Fund For Easy And Smooth Transfer To Your Account Abroad For Investment Purposes.

You Will No Doubt Be Adequately Compensated With As Well As A Percentage Of The Profit From Investment Of The Fund. Also You Will See To It That My Sister And I
Come Over To Your Country At The Earliest Possible Time.

I Am Making This Request To You With Tears In My Eyes And I Feel That God Almighty Will Touch You With His
Spirit To Listen To My Cry For Help And Answer Me Without Delay.

Since Our Breadwinner Is No More And This Is The Only Hope For Life.You Positive Response Will Give Me The Greatest Joy And Relief.

God Bless You For Your Kind Assistance We Have Agreed To Offer You 22% Of The Total Sum.Seriously Waiting For Your Urgent Reply.

Best regard.

Mis Shearifatu Shittu.

CONTACT I AND MY BROTHER WITH THIS ADDRESS.

E-MAIL ADDERSS :sherifatu001@yahoo.fr

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam