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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)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "contact me immediately" (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: john_tsvangirai_mdc@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 11:26:39 -0800
Subject: INVESTING IN YOUR COUNTRY

Dear Sir/Madam,
I know this information will come to you as a surprise.
My name is John Tsvangirai, the son of Morgan Tsvangirai,
the leader of the main opposition party MDC in Zimbabwe.
My family has numerous businesses in Zimbabwe which is being
threatened to be destroyed and closed by the government of
President Robert Mugabe with his ruling party the ZANU.
They have brutalized my father and have threatened to freeze our
business accounts saying the money is from foreign donors to
overthrow his government. They have accused my father of
treasonable felony unjustly.
My father fear for my safety and has asked me to close
our company accounts and leave the country as soon as possible
with the money. This is why I need your assistance to assist me
leave Zimbabwe with the money and come to your country so that
you can help me to invest the money.
I will send you the money before I leave and invest the money
as soon as I arrived your country. Tell me about your country
and contact me immediately so that we can begin with transferring
the money to your designated bank account.

I look forward to your immediate response.

Best regards,

John Tsvangirai

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam