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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "abidjan" (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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "miriamkolonga Gazeta.pl" <miriamkolonga@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 17:51:12 +0400
Subject: Reform Church of God


*Reform Church of God
23/24 Cocody Avenue
Abidjan
Cote divoire*
**
**
*Dearest One,
*
*I know this mail will come to you as a surprise since we have not had
previous correspondence, please bear with me. I will really like to have a
good relationship with you, and I have a special reason why I decided to
contact you. I am Miss Miriam Kolonga 18 years old girl from Cote d
Ivoire, the only daughter of Late Mr Robert Kolonga.
*
*I am forced to contact you because of the maltreatment I am receiving from
my Uncles. They planned to take away my entire late father's assets and
properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Parents.
Meanwhile I wanted to escape to anywhere i can have a good life but my uncle
hid away my international passport and other valuable travelling documents.
Luckily he did not discover where I kept my fathers File which
contains important documents relating to some financial deposit of 5.5
million dollars which i am the next of kin with a bank in cote d 'ivoire.So
I decided to run to an orphanage camp where I am presently hiding under El
bethel Church of GOD Abidjan Cote D Ivoire. I wish to contact you personally
for a long term business relationship and investment assistance in anywhere
in the world.
I shall forward to you with the necessary documents on confirmation of your
acceptance to assist me for the transfer of the money to your account, and
investment of the fund. As you will help me in an investment, and I will
like to complete my studies, as I was formerly a medical student, when
the problem started.

If you are willing to help me in this kindly get back to me as soon as
possible. You can call me on +22508995621. I am waiting for your urgent and
positive response. Please do keep this only to your self; I plead with you
not to disclose it till I come over to your country after the transfer. I
am willing to offer you 20% of the total sum as compensation of your effort
and 5% for any other expenses you made after a successful transfer. Call me
on
+22508995621*

*Thank you and God bless
Miriam.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam