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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:
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "hundred thousand u.s 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: hector tete <hec_te2000@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 09:03:11 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Please read this letter and reply.


DEAR SIR/MADAM,

THOUGH WE HAVE NOT MET I NEED A TRUSTWORTHY AND HONEST PERSON WHO I CAN RELY ON. I AM A CITIZEN OF SIERRA-LEONE; MY NAME IS PRINCE HECTOR TETE THE FIRST SON OF HIS ROYAL MAJESTY MICHEAL TETE (11) THE PERSONAL ADVISER TO FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MINERAL RESOURCES (LT.COL.ROBERT KOROMA) NPRC 2000.


ON A TOUR IN 2004 WITH SOME OTHER IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN MY COUNTRY TO NEGOTIATE PEACE WITH SOME REBELS, IN MAKENI A NORTHERN CITY, THEY WERE ATTACKED BY THE RUF REBELS AND MY FATHER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND DIED THREE DAYS AFTER. MY FATHER DIED AND LEFT BEHIND PHYSICAL CASH OF $12.5 MILLION (TWENTY SIX MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS) GOLD AND DIAMOND, WHICH THE QUOTATION IS WITH ME. HE SAFELY LODGED IT WITH INSURANCE AND SECURITY COMPANY IN ACCRA-GHANA, WEST AFRICA DOCUMENTED IN MY NAME (PRINCE TETE HECTOR 111).


I WANT TO POSSIBLY INVEST IN A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION AND A CHURCH IN A SUITABLE AREA OF CHOICE IN YOUR COUNTRY NOW THAT THE WAR IN MY COUNTRY IS OVER. I AM HEREBY SOLICITING YOUR ASSISTANCE TO BE MY FOREIGN PARTNER BECAUSE I'VE NOT BEEN TO EUROPE/U.S. BEFORE IN MY LIFE. SO I DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANY COSTLY MISTAKE. THAT L INTENDS TO OPEN A CHURCH 'COS I GRADUATED FROM A BIBLE SCHOOL IN SOUTH AFRICA. WILL YOU MAKE ME LOOSE MY MONEY?


YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO 15% OFFER FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. ALL I WANT IS FOR YOU TO RECEIVE THE MONEY INTO YOUR CUSTODY AND SEND INVITATION LETTER FOR ME TO JOIN YOU. YOUR URGENT REPLY WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED. ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS THAT COVER
THE DEPOSITION OF THE MONEY WITH THE INSURANCE AND
SECURITY COMPANY ARE WITH ME. IN REPLY, PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR INTEREST IN THIS BUSINESS.

THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION
PRINCE HECTOR TETE 111
FROM THE FAMILY


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam