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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:
  • "million us 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)
  • "you will be given 30%" (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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: kamara koffi <k_koffi073@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <k_koffi072@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 21:03:22 +0000
Subject: Greetings from Abidjan



Greetings from Abidjan Before I introduce myself, I wish to inform you that this letter is not a hoax mail and I urge you to treat it serious. We want to transfer to overseas account (6,000.000.00 Dollars ) Six million US Dollars from a prime Bank here in Abidjan I am Mr.Kamara Koffi, presently promoted to Auditor General in one of the banks here in Abijian cote d'ivore . During the course of our auditing last week, The owner of this account is Mr. Keith Lathan an American and a great industrialist and a resident of Alaska State, who unfortunately lost his life in the plane, crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on 26th August 2004 , including his wife and only daughter leaving nobody to claim the money . At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 30% of the total amount 70% will be for us. PLEASE, TREAT THIS PROPOSAL AS TOP SECRET. I look forward to your earliest reply, Best Regards Kamara Koffi
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam