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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
  (+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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "trunk box" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "trunk boxes" (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)
  • "million us 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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "liberia" (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.
  • lymessi10@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "lyonard messi" <lymessi10@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 11:50:12 +0000
Subject: KINDLY CONSIDER MY PROPOSAL.


CONFIDENTIAL
Hello Dear Friend,

After a discreet enquiries, I'm able to discover your astute ability to
handle a business transaction of considerable volume which requires urgency
and secrecy.

My name is Lyonard Messi Conneh a Liberian and the son of Johnson Conneh a
rebel leader and a renown chief in a Diamond district of Liberia where he
inherited a rich Diamond company. He was accused by Government of President
Charles Taylor for misappropriation of public fund and was arrested and
jailed.

You can visit this website:
http://english.people.com.cn/200308/11/eng20030811_122092.shtml

Before my father died, he instructed and confined in me as his Only son
about his business and secrecy. As a matter of fact, my father gave me some
documents bearing the name of a financial security outfit in Accra capital
city of Ghana, which he told me was the place he deposited huge amount of
money, Gold and Diamond when he was assigned for special duty.

Armed with this documents that my father gave to me, I flew to Accra , Ghana
where I confirmed the documents. Our lawyer showed me the two sealed trunk
boxes with the
inscription "FAMILY ACHIEVE" with my name being used as the next of kin in
the deposit form.
However, my father had earlier informed me that he cleverly packed the
Twenty Million US Dollars [$20 Million USD] in 2 metallic trunk boxes .This
he did in order to conceal the money from being detected.

Now with my father exit, I need a foreign partner who will assist me and my
mother to receive this proceeds in abroad , and who will equally not
sidetrack me and my family when this money get into his possession.



On completion of this transaction, I wish to offer you 25% of total sum for
your asistance,10% for unforeseen or miscellaneous and 65% for I and
my mother and I will also come over to your country for a joint investment
according to your directives.

There is no risk involved both now and future. On your acceptance you can
reach me on this email: (lymessi10@gmail.com) for us to touch base.
Best Regards.

Lyonard Messi
[for the family]

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam