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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "former president of liberia" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "liberia" (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: Stella Taylor <sttaylor13@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <stellataylor01@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2007 19:58:04 +0100
Subject: SEEKING YOUR HELP



Good Day I know this mail will come to you as a surprise. Any how forgive me if I disturb your privacy. My name is Stella Taylor, the daughter of Mr Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, who is facing trial for alleged crime against humanity at The Hague. This whole frame up was orchestrated by the Mrs Allis Johnson The present president who is bent to destroy our family. All our family wealth has been seized so we are left with nothing. However, my father during one of his visit to Cote d'Ivoire deposited a trunk box which contains the sum of USD 8,500,000.00. In a security and save deposit company with the name of his aid who is also serving a jail term in Liberia. I have the document of the deposit so I need your help this box released and the money therein transferred to your account. Please, if you are interested to assist me with this transaction, kindly let me so that i will give you more details. Be rest assured that this transaction secured and risk free. I am waiting for your response Yours sincerely Stella Taylor
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam