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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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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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. )
  • "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)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • maxwell_k2000@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MAXWELL KAMARA <maxwell4help@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2007 06:03:45 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GOD BLESS YOU FOR HELPING ME.


DEAR FRIEND,

FIRST AND FOREMOST,I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION AND I PRAY THAT MY DECISION TO CONTACT YOU WILL BE GIVEN GENUINE APPROVAL CONSIDERING THE FACTS WE HAVE NOT KNOWN EACH OTHER BEFORE, I WISH TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU.

I AM MAXWELL KAMARA. FROM SIERRA-LEONE, WEST AFRICA. I WRITE TO INFORM YOU MY DESIRE TO INVEST, AND TO BUY A LIVING HOUSE IN YOUR COUNTRY. I AM THE FIRST CHILD OF MR. KAMARA SESAY, HE WAS A DIAMOND/GOLD MERCHANT IN MY COUNTRY.MY FATHER HAD A BULLET SHOT BY THE REBELS DURING THE WAR ON HIS WAY TRAVELLING OUT OF MY COUNTRY WITH MY MOTHER AND YOUNGER SISTER DUE TO PRESENT CRISIS THAT WAS OCCURING IN MY COUNTRY(SIERRA-LEONE).

MY MOTHER AND SISTER DIED ON THE SPOT WHILE U.N.PEACE KEEPING FORCE RESCUED MY FATHER; HE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT WHICH HE LATER DIED. BEFORE HE DIED HE REAVEALED TO ME AND MY TWINE BROTHER ABOUT A CONSIGNMENT BOX CONTAINING $5 MILLION US DOLLARS (FIVE MILION USD DORLLAS.)
WHICH HE DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN GHANA FOR SAFE KEEPING. MY FATHER DID NOT DISCLOSE THE CONTENT OF THE BOX TO THE SECURITY COMPANY, IT WAS KEPT AS A FAMILY VALABLES.
TO AVIOD THE OFFICIALS FROM RAISING EYE BROWS TO THE FUNDS. PRESENTLY I AND MY TWINE BOTHER ARE HERE IN GHANA TO NOTIFY THE SECURITY COMPANY FOR THE CLAIMS, AND WE ARE STAYING IN THE REFUGEE CAMP.

THEREFORE I WANT YOU TO LECTURE ME ON HOW BEST WE CAN INVEST THIS MONEY, BECAUSE MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN AFRICA HERE TO AVIOD SUSPICIONS, AND DUE TO MARKET INSTABILITY COUPLED WITH ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY FACING AFRICAN COUNTRIES, WHICH IS WHY WE WANT TO INVEST IN ABROAD.

FOR YOUR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, MYSELF AND MY TWINE BROTHER HAVE AGREED TO OFFER YOU 20% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE MONEY. WE HAVE ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS COVERING THE DEPOSIT AND THE OWNERSHIP WHICH I CAN SEND TO YOU THROUGH FAX, OR SCANING ON REQUEST.

NOTE: I HAVE NEVER DISCLOSED THIS TO ANY PERSON APART FROM YOU,SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION AS A TOP SECRET TO YOURSELF ALONE.WHICH I WILL WANT YOU TO FORWARD ACROSS TO ME YOUR DIRECT TEL/FAX NUMBER FOR MORE INFORMATIONS ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION.

YOU SHOULD REPLY ME THROUGH MY SECURE PERSONAL EMAIL: maxwell_k2000@yahoo.com
BEST REGARDS,
MAXWELL KAMARA.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam