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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "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)
  • "million 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: eric titu <prize_eric2007@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <erickalabi_2007@yahoo.ca>
Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 11:17:22 +0000
Subject: DEAR FRIEND , HOW ARE YOU ? I HOPE YOU ARE FINE



DEAR FRIEND, IT MY UTMOST PLEASURE TO WRITE YOU THIS LETTER TODAY,MY NAME IS ERIC TITU KALABI,I AM FROM THE REPUBLIC OF SEIRRE LEONE,MY LATE FATHER HAPPENS TO BE THE FORMER MINISTER OF FINANCE IN SEIRRE LEONE,BEFORE HIS DEATH IN THE CIVIL WAR,HE MADE A HUGE DEPOSIT IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN GHANA WEST AFRICA,THIS COMPANY IS MADE TO BELIEVE THAT THE CONSIGNMENT BOX WHICH IS CONTAINING THE SUM OF $12.5MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS,CONTAINS SOME FAMILY VALUABLES,SO THIS SECRET IS BETWEEN ME,YOU AND MY MOTHER,MY LATE FATHER WARNED ME NOT TO DISCLOSE THIS TO ANY MEMBER OF MY FAMILY INCLUDING MY UNCLES APART FROM A FOREIGN BENEFICIARY WHO IS READY TO ASSIST ME IN CLAIMING THE BOX FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY. PRESENTLY I AND MY MOTHER WE ARE IN A REFUGEE CAMP CALLED BUJUMBURA REFUGEE CAMP 9 IN ACCRA GHANA,LIFE IN THE REFUGEE CAMP IS VERY HARD,PEOPLE ARE DYING EVERYDAY,DUE TO THE HARDSHIP AND MALARIA PARASITE IN THE REFUGEE CAMP.WE WENT TO THE SECURITY COMPANY FOR THE CLAIM,BUT WE WHERE TOLD THAT,IT IS STATED IN THE AGREEMENT MY LATE FATHER HAD WITH THE COMPANY THAT THE CONSIGNMENT BOX SHOULD ONLY BE RELEASED HIS FOREIGN BENEFICIARY ,ACTUALLY A FRIEND OF MY LATE FATHER WHO WAS SUPPOSE TO STAND AS OUR BENEFICIARY DIED IN CAR ACCIDENT,SO THAT IS WHY WE CHOOSE TO LOOK FOR TRUSTWORTHY AND A GOD FEARING PERSON BY OUR OWN THAT WILL HELP US CLAIM THE FUND AND INVEST THE FUNDS IN A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS OF HIS CHOICE FOR THE BETTER. I AND MY MOTHER HAS AGREED TO GIVE ANYBODY WHO IS READY TO HELP US CLAIM OUR CONSIGNMENT 35% OF THE TOTAL SUM OF $12.5.USD,5% WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR ANY EXPENSES INCURRED DURING THE PERIOD OF THIS TRANSACTION,THEN 60% WILL BE FOR ME AND MY MOTHER,WHICH WE WILL USE FOR INVESTMENT AND TO PURCHASE A LIVING HOME FOR US AT YOUR COUNTRY,SO THAT WE CAN START A NEW LIFE IN YOUR COUNTRY. ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS COVERING THE DEPOSIT ARE ALL WITH US,SO YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM CLAIMING THE CONSIGNMENT,WE CAN EVEN SEND THE DOCUMENTS TO YOU FOR YOUR OWN PERUSAL,ON REQUEST,SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.I WILL WANT YOU TO SEND YOUR CONTACT DETAILS,BELOW. 1.YOUR HOME ADDRESS.2.YOUR DIRECT PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS FOR OTHER MEANS OF COMMUNICATION,AND ANY FORM OF 3.IDENTITY,FOR US TO WHOM WE ARE DEALING WITH.NOTE THAT EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE DESIRE OR INTEREST TO ASSIST US,PLEASE DO NOT DISCLOSE THIS SECRET TO ANYBODY FOR SECURITY REASONS. THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION AND GOD BLESS YOU.YOURS SINCERELY,ERIC TITU KALABI.BUJUMBURA REFUGEE CAMP 9.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam