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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
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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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: stella mobutu <st_mobutu1@yahoo.ca>
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2006 08:18:35 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: strictly confidential


Dearest One,

I know that this letter will come to you as a surprise considering the fact that we have not met before.I am trully looking for someone that will assist me with a business that has to do inheritance which my late father left behind for me.I am contacting you based on the fact that i want somene that is not known to my family to assist me in this business and this is for security reasons which i will explain to you as we make progress.
I am the first daugther of the late Joseph Desire Mobutu, the former President
of "ZAIRE" now democratic republic of congo .I am presently on political
asylum in Abidjan Ivory Coast .I do not want anybody known to me or my family
to be associated with this money.I want you to note that this business will
benefit both of us and that it is 100% risk free.
However, you must confirm your ability to handle this because it involves
a large amount of money. The funds "THIRTY SEVEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS"
($37million)is my share of my father's estate. I boxed and shipped the money
to a security company abroad through diplomatic means at the peak of the
a political uprising that rocked my country few years ago.
Now that the crisis has ended , I need a trustworthy person to proceed to
the place of the security company in order to clear the fund and afterwards,i
will come to your country for us to start a joint business venture as i
do not have the intention of bringing the funds back to
Africa for a very long time.
Note that I will send to you the relevant documents that will enable you
take possession of the fund for onward investment for our mutual benefit.
All I need from you is as follows:
1. Your confirmation of your ability to handle this business for me.
2.your word that you will keep this business as confidential as possible
at all times until we conclude this business.
3. Your telephone and fax numbers for communication.
4. Your full permanent address.
As soon as I get the above information from you, I will disclose to you
the name and the country of the security company, the contact of the diplomat
that i have hired to assist me in this business,as well as forward your
name and particulars to the security company as my
representative and my partner to enable them contact you accordingly. As
we make progress,i will send to you a"LETTER OF AUTHORITY" and "AGREEMENT
LETTER" to enable you clear the fund on my behalf.
Note that this is a very safe transaction as this funds is my share of
my father's estate.
I await your response to enable us proceed.
Regards,
Miss Stella Mobutu.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam