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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • ",000,000" (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.
  
• 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.
  • willy.johnson1@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Willy Johnson." <wjohnson782@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: willy.johnson1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2007 19:04:15 +0400
Subject: YOUR CONSENT URGENTLY NEED

Son Of Ex Mines Minister
Sierra-Leone Freetown,
West-Africa.
Hello Dear

I got your contact during my search on the Internet for a reliable person to entrust with. My name is Willy Johnson. I am the first son of Mr. Robert Johnson ex Minister of Mines and Industry of Sierra-Leone. He was killed by rebels on his way to capital city Freetown I am seeking for your assistance help in the transfer of US$ 10,000,000.

This fund is the wail amount share of what my father saved in with my name I have already submitted an approved from our family lawyer to wit draw from Global storage company in Accra and them didn't know that content in the truck box, it was saved as a diamond of this Excess.

I have since then, placed this amount of US$ 10,000,000 for investment outside Africa without partner yet of which you will advice me. As an Orphan because I later lost my mother last year June. I cannot be directly able to handle this money that why I am request for your assistance to stand as a beneficiary of this money and receive this money into your bank account.

I intend to give part 15% of this fund to you for your assistance, then 5% for any expenses that may occur during this transfer, while 80% shall be for me. Practically no risk involved in this. It's going to be a change of ownership. I have all the necessary documents that covered the fund with our family lawyer.

All I need from you is to stand as the beneficiary of this fund. If you accept this offer, I will appreciate your timely response with your direct contacts address.
With regards,
Willy Johnson.
willy.johnson1@yahoo.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam