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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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
  • j_ames_mark88@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "James Mark" <j_ames_mark88@yahoo.ca> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2006 12:01:59 +0000
Subject: Very Urgent as I await your urgent response.

James Mark
Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire
Email; j_ames_mark88@yahoo.ca

Dearest One,
To introduce myself, I am James Mark the only son to Mr and Mrs Victor Mark, I was a in the university studying Electrical Engr, before the sudden death of my late father,who was a very wealthy Gold/Diamond dealer in Freetown, the economic capital of Sierra Leone. My father was poisoned to death by his close business associates on one of their outings on a business trip, in collaboration of my Uncle my late father younger brother.

It is just a long story, as I have to let you know more about my life experiences.

Presently I am in Ivory Coast a nearby country, as my Uncle threatens to eliminate me also, but why I contacted you was just to confide in you the deposit my late father deposited in a security company in Europe , before his death.

He made a deposit of,TEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS(concealed in a metallic box ) in a security company in Europe,as he declares it as family valuables for the security of the money involved. he used my name as the next of kin when he made the deposit as I have all the documents meant for the deposit, since my arrival here I have contacted the security company and inform them of my father death, and our willingness to retrieve the deposit,they are waiting for our foreign partner now for the release of the deposit, as was stated in the agreement reached by the security company and my late father.

All I am looking for now is for you to assist me in the claim and investment of this only remaining heritage of my late father in your country as our foreign partner.
I will forward you all the documents for your understanding.
Please there is a very big political problem going on in this country that I am presently now as I need your urgent assistance to retreive the deposit that will enable me come over to your country to continue my education that was stoped because of treats from my uncle and the death of my late father.
I offer you ten percent of the total money for your assistance.

I await for your urgent response, or call me with this number, +22507935610.

May God be with you.

James Mark.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam