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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)
  • "the consignment " (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: koffi williams <koffi_williams2007@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2007 17:29:24 +0100
Subject: URGENT REPLY



Dear Sir/Madam, We are a medium-scale mining company in Ghana west Africa, At present we have a total of 325 kilograms of gold dust kept in a strong room at our mining site. However, we are not requesting or asking the interested or potential buyer to pay for the consignment instantly or in advance, rather we would want the buyer to pay a visit to our mining site in Ghana to have a view of the consignment and make adequate arrangement for all the necessary documents that will facilitate the shipment of the gold dust to his destination, then will send our representative to accompany him with the consignment to his destination. Now the buyer will take the gold dust to his refinery. During this period, the buyer will be responsible for the hotel accommodation and feeding expenses of our representative that traveled with him, and it must not exceed seven working days. After refining the gold dust, the total cost will be paid to the company’s account. In alternative, if the buyer will not be able to come down to Ghana, we can make arrangement to move the consignment to any of these countries: UK, EUROPE, USA, UAE OR ASIA, where we will meet with the buyer for transaction. Our price is $7,500 USD, per kilogram, including shipment Charges. The least quantity of products we can sale in Ghana is between 1gram to 75 kilograms, while the highest quantity that can be shipped to any of these countries mentioned above, is between 50 to 150 kilograms or more. The purity of the gold dust is 92% au. At most 999.9% will be 900grams in each kilogram. It is always 22 carat after refining. Commission or interest paid to agents who sourced for potential buyers is 30%, of total sales. Terms and procedure will be send to you if you indicate your interest to purchase our product. NOTE THAT NO UPFRONT PAYMENT OR DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED. Reach me quickly with your telephone numbers and other contact details for ease of communication. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE IS BEING AWAITED.
MY SINCERE REGARDS, MR KOFFI WILLIAMS.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam