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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:
  • "million 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "lagos" (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.
  
• 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.
  • akindemikel@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: akinde_mikel@freenet.de
Date: Sat, 09 Feb 2008 02:16:23 +0100
Subject: Good day and compliment


AKINDE MIKEL
PLOT 5 VICTORIA GARDEN CITY,
LAGOS, NIGERIA.EMAIL:
akindemikel@hotmail.com
Good day and compliment,

A CRY FOR HELP,I am
writing this letter in confidence believing that if it is the wish Of
God for you to help me and my family, God almighty will bless and Reward
you abundantly.

My family and I are true Christians and worship\'s God
truthfully.
I got Your contact through Internet during my research on
some one who could Help us.

I am a student Of University of Lagos,
Nigeria, I am 22 yrs old. My fathers died earlier two months ago and
left my Mother I and my brother behind.

He Was a king, which our town
citizens titled him before his death I was a royal child to him and I
and my brother are the only people who Can take Care of his wealth now
because my mother is not literate enough To know all my fathers wealth
behind.

He left up to USD 12.350 000.000.00 million dollars with a
security Company, and I dont know how and what I will do to invest this
money Somewhere in abroad, so that my fathers kindred will not take over
what Belongs to my father and our family, which they were planning to do
Without my present because I am too young as stated by our culture in
the Town.

That is why I felt happy when I saw your contact which I
strongly believe that by the grace of God, you will help me secure And
invest this money.

I thereby need your help in bringing the box
Containing the money out from the security company, based on your reply
I Will furnish you with more details on how we can proceed.

I am ready
to pay 10% of the total amount to you if you help us in Securing this
money and another 10% interest of Annual Income to you, for investing
this money for us, which you will strongly have absolute Control Over.


If you can handle this project sincerely and also willing to assist me
In lifting this fund, kindly reach me and I will let you know the next
Step to take towards actualizing this transaction as quickly as
Possible.

Please, note that this transaction is 100% risk free. I look
forward hearing from you soonest. PLEASE SEND YOU REPLY TO MY PERSONAL
EMAIL ADDRESS WHICH IS akindemikel@hotmail.com

Yours
sincerely,
AKINDE MIKEL AND FAMILY.
Unbegrenzter Speicher,
Top-Spamschutz, 120 SMS und eigene E-MailDomain
inkl.
http://office.freenet.de/dienste/emailoffice/produktuebersicht/power/mail/index.html

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam