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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million american 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • dfestus_festus@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: david festus <dfestus_festus@yahoo.ca>
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:07:54 -0500 (EST)
Subject: From David Festus/Please I Need Your Help.


>From David Festus
Ivory Coast West Africa

Dearest One.

I am David Festus from Ivory Coast and I am contacting you because I need your help in the management of a sum of money that my dead father Mr.Jonathan Festus left for me before he died. This money is USD 9.5 million American Dollars and the money is deposited by my late father in a bank here in ABIDJAN COTE D'IVOIRE.

My father was a very rich cocoa farmer and he was poisoned by his business colleagues and now I want you to stand as my guardian and appointed beneficiary and receive the money in your country since I am only 19 years and without mother or father.

Please I will like you to reply to this email so that I will tell you all the information so that this money will be transferred to your account so that you will get me papers to travel to your country to continue my education there.

I am waiting for your urgent reply and i will call you as soon as i hear from you. and send to you a copy of my picture so that you will know the person you are helping. email me at’ (dfestus_festus@yahoo.fr)

Thanks.

DAVID FESTUS.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam