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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:
  • "any lucrative business in your country" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "million us 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)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "a diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Linda Kabba <linda_davy2@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: lindakabba1@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:36:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello From Ghana!!!


VERY URGENT REPLY NEEDED!!

I have an urgent need to contact you as I have an important issue I want to share with you..I got your email address through peoples search on the Internet and decided to send you the following mail..

My name is Linda Kabba and I am a citizen of Sierra Leone, but resident in Ghana..I really don't know if you will be kind enough to help me with the following request...I am in a desperate situation and I am seeking your kind assistance. Please, bear in mind that you will not be doing this freely for me, but I plan to reward you for the much help you are going to render me. Although I really don't know you yet, but I am taking a chance, believing that you will do your best to help me..

Well, to go straight to the point, I have a shipment that is been held by the CUSTOMS department at the International Airport in your country and I need your assistance to help me clear the package through the customs. Please note the details of the shipment as follow:

1) The shipment contains 4.7 Million US Dollars in cash in an IRON BOX and my reason of shipping the money to your country is to invest in any profitable business.

2) The shipment was meant to be delivered and kept in any Security Company in your country until I arrive there to claim the consignment, but now that it requires clearance, I am seeking a TRUSTEE to assist me secure the funds and deposit in an account until I relocate to your country.

3) I paid a Diplomat working in an Embassy here to take the shipment to your country and right now, he has arrived with the shipment in your country, but the custom is holding the shipment for clearance purpose.

4) I have plans to invest in any lucrative business in your country and will need you to guide me

5) I need security in life and want to live in your country as I believe its more secured than where I presently live.

6) If you are interested, I want you as a partner in my proposed investment in your country

7) I also want to know if I can trust you so that I can give you more details about the shipment.

Upon clearance through the customs, you will have to receive the box from the Diplomat and transfer the money straight into an account, but we need to come to an agreement first. I plan to reward you for your assistance with 30% percentage of the total amount and I will discuss further details with you in my next mail..

Do let me know as soon as possible if you can assist to clear the shipment through the customs in your country and I will give you further details..

The shipment is 100% risk-free and when you agree, I will send you a LEGAL DOCUMENT from the High Court here that will give you the legal right to receive the package on my behalf. I will also send you my photos and all my necessary identity upon your agreement.

I will furnish you with more details about this arrangement upon your confirmation that you can help me..I will be waiting to hear from you and I hope you can be of help to me. Thank you for your time and do have a nice day...

Ms. Linda Kabba.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam