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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.

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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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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 highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a "Zimbabwe" scam.
• 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.
  • sarah.0cassidy@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Sarah Cassidy" <sarahcassidy@colombia.com>
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 13:41:03 +0200
Subject: I am Sarah Cassidy


I am Sarah Cassidy
Dearest one,

I know that you will be surprised to receive this letter from me since you
don't know me in person. I am Sarah Cassidy. The only daughter of late Mr.
James Cassidy from Zimbabwe who was recently murdered in political land
dispute in Zimbabwe.My late father was among the few black Zimbabwean rich
farmers murdered in cold blood by the agent of the ruling government of
President Robert Mugabe for his alleged support and sympathy for Zimbabwe
supporters of main opposition party (movement for democratic change) (M.D.C)
Before the death of my father, he went to Ivory Coast and deposited the sum
of ($12,000,000,00 million United State Dollars) in one of the famous Bank
in Ivory Coast, for establishment of new farms before his sudden death and
he used my name as the next of kin and made the deposit.

The money was earmarked for the purchase of new machines and chemicals for
the establishment of new farms in Cote D'Ivoire This Land problem arose when
President Robert Mugabe introduced a new land act which mostly affects the
white rich farmers and some few blacks, my father and his group vehemently
condemned the new act adopted by the ruling government.This resulted to
continue killing of opposition farmers.

I am presently staying here in Ivory Coast as a refugee, I am 20 years old,
I have decided to transfer this money to a foreign country where it can be
invested safely and wisely. I am faced with the dilemma of investing this
amount of money in Ivory Coast for fear of encountering the same experience
in future since this country is facing some political violence.

I must let you know in confidence that this transaction is 100% risk free.
Please if you assist me, I will give you 15% of the total money, and 85%
will be for me and for my investment. Therefore if you are willing to assist
me, please endeavor to reply through my private email .I also needs your
private telephone numbers for easy communication.

Remember that this is highly confidential . Expecting your responds soonest
for more clarifications. pls reply me on my private mail box (
sarah.0cassidy@yahoo.fr)
Best regards,
Sarah Cassidy.

N/B. PLEASE MY DEAR I WILL BE GLAD IF YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE BELOW WEB SITE
TO UNDERSTAND VERY WELL WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/918781.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1063785.stm

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam