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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "i got your address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +27734570485 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: URGENT FAMILY ASSISTANCE <kamokaifamily9@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <richard_kamokaifamily@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:37:59 +0900
Subject: URGENT FAMILY ASSISTANCE





MR RICHARD KAMOKAI.
PHONE: +27-73-457-0485

Dear Sir / Madam,

My name is MR RICHARD KAMOKAI, the son of MR. ALHAJI KHUMALO KAMOKAI from Zimbabwe. This might be a surprise to you about where I got your contact address. I got your address from the chambers of commerce during my search for a reliable person or company that will assist my family in this transaction Though I did not reveal the actual nature of the business I have in mind because it needs privacy.

During the current war against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the supporters of our President Dr Robert Mugabe to claim all the white-owned farms which the govt finally handed over to his party members and followers, He ordered all white farmers to surrender all their farms to his party members and his followers. My father is One of the best black farmers in our country and because he did not support the bad govt policy Mugabe`s supporters invaded my father’s farm and burnt everything in the farm, killing my father and made away with a lot of items in our farm.

Before his death, my father had deposited in a private Security Company in Johannesburg, South Africa the sum of {US$20)(TWENT MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY}. After the death of my father the entire family for fear of our lives. We decided to move to the Republic of South Africa where he had deposited the money in the Security Company as valuables as refugees. Later we discovered that the monetary policy here does not allow refugees to open bank account or transact business. So I decided to contact you so that you will assist me to move this money out of South Africa for investment abroad because as asylum seekers we are not allowed to operate any Bank Account within South Africa. We have agreed to offer you 15% of the total sum for your assistance, 5% will be mapped out for any expenses that may be incurred in the course of this transaction while 80% will be for me and my family to invest in your country.

If you accept my offer kindly send to me your phone and fax numbers for easier communications. Thanks as I hope to hear a good reply from you. Please always remember that it is the wish of my mother and the entire family that you keep this matter private to avoid entering a wrong hand that may jeopardize our chances of success. please call me on the numbers above.


Yours faithfully,

MR RICHARD AKAMOKAI.
(FOR THE FAMILY)
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam