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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:
  • "million 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)
  • "abidjan" (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.
  • davidowo4@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "owo david" <missowod027@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 13:13:31 +0300
Subject: From Owo David.

From Owo David.

Hello my dear,

I am aware that this is not a formal approach in starting a relationship,
but as time goes on, you will realise the need for my approach. My email to
you will come as as a surprise since i don't know you in person. But if this
message comes to you out of your wish, i am very sorry. I hope that you will
read through this email and understand how difficult things can be for
someone in a particular period in life.

My name is Miss. Owo David, i am 18 years now, i was a student in the
University of Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), west Africa. I am the
only daughter of late Chief & Mrs Ahmed David and my Brother Faruk. Some
rebel from one part of the government struck our township and killed my
parents and my only brother because my father was one of the oppositions to
the former president of my country Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). And before
his death he has $2 million U.S.D (two million dollars.) in an account with
a bank in Cote D'Ivoire which i am the next of kin.

My late dad had planed to purchase and import some cocoa processing
machines and the development of another factory, unfortunately he did not
meet his target before his untimely death. The reason why i contacted you
for help is due to the agreement my late father had with the bank during the
deposit. I have been denied access to withdraw the money from the bank, the
bank manager told me precisely that the money was deposited in a suspense
fixed account with a clause attached to it for onward transfer into a
foreign bank account.

I have tryed all i could, but the bank manager advised me to look for a
foreign account where the money can be transfered into before i can have
access to it. Since security here can not be guaranteed, besides i've lost
my family and my father's company was burnt down in that rebel attack.

Right now i am in great sufferings and difficulty, i can't feed myself
because i have spent all the money i have. Please i am begging you to do me
a favor by standing as my guardian and receiver of the money on my behalf,
or you can stand as my late father's foreign business partner to enable the
bank to transfer my late dad's money into your account.
I have suffered in so much pain since i lost my family, so i have decided
to go out of this country and invest in your country if you will accept to
receive the transfer. I will be investing in industrial production as soon
as the bank has made the transfer to you, and you make an arrangement for me
to come over to your country after this money is transfered to you.

Please my dear, if you will help me realise this transfer and get me out
of this pain, you will have 30% of the total money as compensation for your
effort, and another 10% for any other expense you might made after a
successful transfer by the bank into your account, and that will total your
own share of the transfer 40%.

Please i am begging you to help me by indicating your interest in your
reply to this mail if willing. I will be expecting your urgent reply through
my email: davidowo4@sify.com

Thanks and may God bless you.

Yours,

Miss Owo David.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam