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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "trunk box" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2216977530 (Senegal, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "BARRISTER. GREG ALI." <greglawfirm@greglawfirm.com>
Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2006 13:15:59 -0500
Subject: Miss Lucy Abam Frimpong's Funds Transfer. Respond Urgentl

Attn: Mr Eberhardt Muenchder,

I knew your contact information through Miss Lucy Abam Frimpong. She is a
refugee here in Senegal seeking for my services to issue a legal power of
attorney document to you which her security and finance copany has requested
from her before her late father's deposited trunk box will be release for
transfer to your position in your country.
It's a surprise that you didn't notice her name which i also included in my
e-mail to you. I also called you at the phone number you gave to her so she
can be able to speak to you from my office, but there was no response at
your phone until she left my office. Please read my last e-mail again and
you can then respond accordingly.

Sincerely yours.

Barrister Greg Ali. Sas,Esq.
Greg Law Firm.
Plot 656 Dimba Diop Avenue.
Dakar-Senegal.
E-mail:greglawfirm@greglawfirm.com
Tel: +221-697-75-30.
Fax: +221-826-41-93.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam