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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "lagos" (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.
  • princessfamily01@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "princess_ajanafamily" <princess_ajanafamily@terra.com.mx>
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 07:40:39 -0600
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE


Good day and Compliments,

I am writing this letter in confidence believing thatif it is the wish of God for you to help me and myfamily, God almighty will bless and reward you abundantly. My family and I are true christians and worship's God truthfully. I got your contact through Internet during my research on someone who could help us.I am a female student of University of Nigeria, Lagos.I am 22 yrs oldI would like to build up a solid foundation with you in time coming ifyou can be ableto help me in this transaction. Well, my father died earlier two months ago and left my mother I and my junior brother behind.

He was a king, which our town citizens titled him before his death. I was a Princess to him and I and my brother are the only people who can take Care of his wealth now because my mother is not literate enough to know all my father's wealth he left behind.He left up to USD 15, 350, 000.00 dollars (FIFTEEN MILLION, THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND US DOLLARS) with CREDIT TRUST ALLIANCE BANK UK, and Idon't know how and what I will do to invest this money somewhere in abroad, so that my father's kindred will not take over what belongs to my father and our family, which they were planning to do without myconsent because I am a female as stated by our culturein the town.That is why I felt happy when I saw your contact which I strongly believe that by the grace of God, you will help me secure and invest this money. I there by need your help in providing an account where the Bank will transfer the money , based on your reply I will furnish you with more details on how we can proceed.

I am ready to pay 30% of the total amount to you if you help us
insecuring this money , and for handling this business for us, which you will strongly have absolute control over . If you can handle this project sincerely and also willing to assist me in lifting this fund, kindly reach me and I will let you know the next step to take towards actualizing this transaction as quickly as possible.Please, note that this transaction is 100% risk free.I look forward hearing from you soonest.

Yours sincerely,
princess and family.
NB:You can contact me through my personal email
address:princessfamily01@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam