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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "keep this confidential" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • smbu100@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "Shula Mbule" <smbu100@yahoo.fr> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:13:41 +0000
Subject: Good morning

Dear
Please and please read this my letter to you and consider to help me out of this situation , Because my life now is in danger here in Africa Since i lost my father,My father brothers is very wicked and wanted to control every property of my father ,
This is confidential discussion that involves big money , But first i want us to be in good relationship and know each other very well ,
I suggest if possible for you to visit me here in Africa and you know me very well so that both of us will travel together to meet the Finance company in the country where my father deposited his money for his future investments .
My father save big amount of money worth's $9.700.000.00 ( Nine million seven hundred thousand united state dollars ) and only me knows about this Money. My father brothers don,t know about this money in the finance house.
If you are ready to help me ,i want this money to be transfer for investments in your country for any good business you know that can make more profits , and also you will help me to come over there and live with freedom .
I will be happy if my honest truth to you shall be a future glory relationship and good testimony .
The reason i want us to meet face to face is to prove you every truth of my words, by to show you all the original documents of the deposit that cover this money so that you will trust and believe me ,then we discuss how much will be your share from this money for helping me .but in my honest mind i propose to give you 25% of this money after the money is secured to your accounts .
But if you don''t have time to come now , i can still send the documents and the contacts to you so that you will contact the Finance company and verify from them first .
Please keep this confidential till am there with you.
Please always maintain writing me with this my private email.( smbu100@yahoo.fr )
I am waiting to hear from you and send me your phone number to call and speak with you .
Thanks from .
Shula

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam