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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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• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • ",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)
  • "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)
  • "abidjan" (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: joy chile <j.chile58@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <joy.chile@hotmail.fr>
Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2007 14:46:07 +0100
Subject: RESPONSE NEEDED



From:Mrs.Joy ChileAddress:05 BP 2451 Abidjan 05Côte d'Ivoire

Dear Sir/Madam.

It's my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I and my two daughters intend to establish in your country.Though I have not met with you before but I believe one has to risk confiding in someone to succeed sometimes in life.My husband before he was assasinated during the civil war in my country by unknown persons,was minister for mineral resources.There is this huge amount of money fourteen million U.S dollars($14,000,000.00) which my late Husband deposited for us in a security company here in Cote'd ivoire during the war.Right now I and my two daughters have decided to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough for security purposes.We want you to help us to transfer this money to your country for investment purposes.If you can be of an assistance to us we will be pleased to offer to you 20% Of the total fund.I had an accident some few weeks back and am still in the hospital,so i would want you to reply as soon as possible. Thank you and God bless you. Sincerely,

Mrs Joy Chile
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam