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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
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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:
  • "it will be a bank to bank transfer" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "there are practically no risks involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • arthurichard@hotbox.ru

Fraud email example:

From: Arthur Richard <athurriichadd4@yahoo.ca>
Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2008 14:48:29 -0500 (EST)
Subject: The Mail


From: Mr. Arthur Richard

Email: arthurichard@hotbox.ru

Dear Sir,

My name is Arthur Richard; I am the regional manager of International commercial bank (ICB) of Ghana takoradi branch in the western region of Ghana. I got your information on a recent bank conference with other West African countries held in Lome the capital city of Togo in West Africa. I write you this proposal in good faith; I am 43 years old married with two lovely kids. I am a devoted Christian and a man of peace.

I have packaged a financial transaction that will benefit you and me, as the regional manager of the International commercial bank(ICB) it is my duty to send in a financial report to my head office in the capital city Accra at the end of each business year. on the course of the last year 2006 business report, I discovered that my branch in which I am the manager made eleven million seven hundred thousand united state dollars($ 11.7,000000) which my head office are not aware of and will never be aware of. I have placed this funds on what we call escrow call account with no beneficiary. As an officer of this bank I cannot be directly connected to this money, so my aim of contacting you is to assist me receive this money in your bank account and get 30% of the total funds as commission.

There are practically no risks involved, it will be a bank to bank transfer, and all I need from you is to stand claim as the original depositor of these funds who made the deposit with my branch so that my head office can order the transfer to your designated bank account.

If you accept to work with me I will appreciate it very much. mail me on this address arthurichard@hotbox.ru if you think we can work together so that we can go over the details. Thank you in advance and May God bless you and your family.

Yours truly
Mr. Arthur Richard



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam