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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "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.
  • mrs_mary_meyer@mighty.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Mary Meyer." <mrs_mary_meyer@mighty.co.za> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 22:52:52 -0700
Subject: YOUR ASSISTANCE IS HIGHLY NEEDED.

FROM: MRS. MARY MEYER.
EMAIL: mrs_mary_meyer@mighty.co.za
ATTN: Sir,
ASSISTANT REQUIRED
Dearest Friend,

I am Mrs. Mary Meyer from Ivory Coast. I am a widow being that I lost my husband a
couple of years ago. My husband was a serving director of the Cocoa exporting board
until his death . He was assassinated on August 2003 by the rebels following the
political uprising.
My husband told me before his death that he has a deposit of (US$40M MILLION)
in a SECURITY AND FINANCE COMPANY in South Africa and handed to me all the
documents which my Lawyer has confirmed. which was for the importation of cocoa
processing machine. Note, according to my late husband the money is in a trunk box
and he did not disclose to the security company the real content of the box he did it to
reduce the cost of demourage fees and for the safety of the fund according to him, he
decleard to the security company that the box contains a family valuables. The money
was deposited in a box as Gemstone and Gold to avoid much demurrage from the
Security Company. Therefore I have designated my family lawyer who will coordinate
every aspect of the fund transfer and the investment with your assistance.

Right now I am looking for an Investor who will help me to invest the total sum in the
west and after which I will relocate to your country.

I want you to do me a favour, to help me invest this fund in a benefitable investment in
your country as I do not have any knowledge of investment, that will be after we
retreive it from the security company. I have plans to do investment in your country,
like real estate and industrial production.

This is my reason for writing to you. Please if you are willing to assist me and my only
son Francoise, indicate your interest in replying soonest or contact my son Francoise
on his phone number (0027-839-475-362)
Thanks and best regards .

Mrs. Mary Meyer.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam