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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:
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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Gifty Alhassan" <g.lasan@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: g.lasann@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:01:18 +0000
Subject: Re: Help

>From Mrs. Gifty Abavana
kinstan House, Manet Estate,
Accra Ghana.

Dear One,
I got your contact via Internet as God wishes, my name is Mrs. Gifty Abavana and I am living with AIDS. Ever since my husband, Hon. Lawrence R. Abavana, former Ghanaian
Agriculture minister died of AIDS and I was tested positive of the AIDS virus, the mass media wouldn't just let me and my family be. My children have stopped going to school because
they could no longer stand the humiliations from fellow students. The embarrassments are getting on my nerves but what can I do? I would have loved to travel out of the country to a
place where I will have peace and spend the rest of my life with my children but I couldn't make it for I am weak and severely sick. Moreover, no Embassy would grant me Visa to her
Country with my hairs withering and my body very weak. From all indications, I know that my days are numbered. In the light of The above, I have contacted you to assist me to transfer
out of Ghana, The SUM OF $15 Million USD which my husband Deposited as [FAMILY TREASURES] with Global Trust Security Company Limited in Ghana to be safe-keep for my
children. I will like my children to come over to your country in due time. My Dear I need you to handle this project and after the fund is secured YOU WILL INVEST THE MONEY
FOR MY CHILDREN IN COMMERCIAL ESTATE OR ANY BUSINESS OF YOUR CHOICE YOU DEEM HEALTHY. I will like you to keep this as a top secret and
Confidential.

For your effort, I am prepared to give you 20% of the total funds. I am looking forward to hear from you while thanking you for your anticipated co-operation.
Please give me your phone number in your reply so I can also call you

Mrs. Gifty Abavana

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam