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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • henry_ayawo@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: usman shamsuddeen <s_usman_03@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:09:31 +0100
Subject: COMPENSATION FUND FOR YOUR PAST EFFORTS



FROM THE DESK OF,DR.USMAN SHAMSUDDEENDEPUTY GOVERNOR CBN (RTD)

COMPENSATION FUNDDear Friend,
With due regards,believing that you still remember me as I am not with short memory to forget you, it is with honor that I announce to you of my success in getting those funds transferred with the cooperation of a new partner from Oman.
Presently I'm in Brazil for investment projects with the Partner who plies his trade in Brazil.Meanwhile,it is in remembrance of your past efforts and attempts to assist me in getting the funds transferred despite that it failed us somehow that i am sending you this fund.
Now contact privately, my Personal Assistant, his name is Mr. HENRY AYAWO, email address;(henry_ayawo@yahoo.co.uk),ask him to assist you process the release and send to you the total sum of $1.7m (One Million Seven Hundred thousand United States Dollar) only which I kept for your compensation for all your past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter.I really appreciated your efforts at that time very much,so feel free and get in touch with him on the advice on how to receive the amount I allocated to you.Please do let me know immediately you receive the fund so that we canshare the joy after all the sufferings at that time.At the moment, I'm very busy here because of the investment prospects which I and my new partner are prospecting to put up.Finally you should inform me if my P.A is proving heady to assist you process the release of the sum to you as directed him.Note; I sincerely apologies for this late notification though it was deliberately calculated to make sure that all arrangements are in place to make a legal claim and also to avoid any undue interference to this allocation to you.
Note; please do not bother to respond if this message reaches you by error,Thanks for your cooperation.
Accept my humble goodwill.With Best regards,DR.USMAN SHAMSUDDEENDeputy Governor CBN (RTD)
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam