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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Felisha." <mrsfelisha4@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mrsfelisha2@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 23:52:33 +0200
Subject: Good day,

Good day,
I want to drop you a quick note because I did not hear back from you concerning the information I sent you the other day. But in case you did not receive the letter introducing my interest in you. I am Mrs. Felisha Hamilton, 57yrs old.
Before the incident that caused the life of my late husband, He told me how he secretly concealed sum huge amount of money in US dollars into a trunk box,the box was deposited in a Security Company in Dakar Senegal on my only daughter's name Miss Elisbeth,the money was realized from his gold dust he sold years back and that was why his brother poisoned him in other to claim his wealth.

The issued documents that covered the deposit are intact and well secured by me and this is why I need your assistance as my late husband's foreign partner to put up claims to this trunk box that is in the security company now.

I intend offering you some percentage for your assistance and any expenses incurred along the line of this transfer. I will also empower you with a letter of authority as my foreign trustee to this box with all necessary documentations if required by the security company in time of claiming this fund on me and my daughter behalf.
All i need from you is Truthfulness, Honesty and Sincerity assuring me that you can in all honesty and sincerity render assistance to me and my only daughter of 20 yrs old.
Any delay in response to this mail may compel me to source for other measures or perhaps choose the alternative which I will not be happy to. Please, do not see this as a strange possibility or an unbelievable opportunity to make wealth, rather see this as a rare chance to assist the less privileged one in truth and in spirit with a substance.

I await your immediate response.

Mrs Felisha and Daughter Elisbeth.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam