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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • paul_umar55@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "PAUL UMAR" <paul_umar55@yahoo.fr> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 2 May 2006 14:42:59 +0200
Subject: PERSONAL LETTER !!!!!!!!

Name; paul umar .
COTE D'IVOIRE WEST AFRICA
EMAIL:paul_umar55@yahoo.fr
Attn: Dear One,
Permit me to introduce my very self, In fact I am paul umar , the only Son of late Mrs.umar frances .My father Mr frances .umar was the DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER in cote d'ivoire.My father and mother were arrested by the government of my Country and put in detention .They were accused of keeping large quantity of GOLD and DIAMOND in the house, and privately selling large quantity of GOLD and DIAMOND ABROAD.Before,their death my father he called me confidentially and informed me in confidence of this sum of USD$28 MILLION US DOLLARS he deposited in a security company in Europ for security reasons. Pending guarantee of your faithfulness and co-operation. He told me that he deposited this USD$28 MILLION US DOLLARS in 2003 that he used my name being the only Son as the next of kin in depositing the money. And he directed me where to get the documents, he advised me to search for a reliable partner overseas who will assist me retrieve and invest the money overseas in case they did not c
ome out alive, as if he knew a political war broken up unfortunately,my parents and others were shot dead in the prison by unknown individuals called rebels last year. I am afraid of my life and the safty of it is not guaranteed in any way,because the political war that brougt the untimely death of my beloved parents has not come to an end yet.The people who killed my parents is in search of me.
1-Rebels never come in agreement with the existing government.
2-Rebels refuse to drop their arms for peace to hold.
Now, I am soliciting your kind assistance once to help me retrieve this money and to assist me invest the money wisely as it is the only money left for my future . Right now, I have all the documents with me so, I look forward hearing from you so that we will proceed and as soon as we retrieve the deposit, without wasting time come Over to your country to witness the investing of the money, secure a residential house and so that i will begin a new life to enable me finish my education . Meanwhile, you will be compensated with 15% of the total money for your noble assistance and 10% for any imput/expenses made during the transaction.
I look forward hearing from you again .

THANK YOU AS YOU WANT TO HELP AN ORPHAN LIKE ME
GOD BLESS YOU
BEST REGARD.
PAUL UMAR.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam