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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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 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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From:
Reply-To: kennyjohnson1966@yahoo.gr
Date:
Subject: GET BACK TO ME URGENTLY

Dear friend,=20

I am Kenny Johnson working with a security company in Africa as the=20
operation manager and I will like you to handle this transaction with m=
e.=20

I have with me now some deposit certificate of consignment belonging to=
the=20
former late Head of State of African Countries For the past 10 years no=
w non=20
of the family members have come for the consignment and as the operatio=
n=20
manager that take note of the consignment, when the deposited the=20
consignment in our security vaults as a family valuables not knowing it=
was=20
money that was stash in the boxes.=20

Before his death he deposited a consignment (money) worth of US=20
$38,000,000.00 (Thirty-Eight million Dollars) in our company. Since we=20
discovered his death several attempts has be made to get his next of ki=
n or=20
any member of his family to make claims of the consignment but all effo=
rt=20
proved abortive as the demurrage of the consignment has been increasing=
on=20
daily basis. The board of directors and management of the security comp=
any=20
suppose to have met at the begining of the year annual meeting of Janua=
ry=20
2008 to discuss on the ghost consignment but have shifted the meeting t=
ill=20
March 2008 this year to give the concerned more time on the claiming of=
=20
their consignments (money).if no body is coming forward to make claim t=
o=20
this consignments the company will now inherit it as a left over money.=
On=20
this view, I and my colleague in this branch of the company have decide=
d to=20
seek for your assistance to come forward and receive the consignment as=
next=20
of kin on our behalf since we cannot make this claim as members and the=
=20
staffs of the Security Company.=20

I need you to help me in securing this fund in our security vaults. I a=
m=20
reaching out to you, and soliciting your help to secure these funds. I =
can=20
trust you to help and use your name to stand and claim the consignment =
all=20
the concern documents will be changed in your name and replace it in th=
e=20
file which means you will be the beneficiary of the consignment While y=
ou=20
easily come down here and receive the consignment. We have promise to g=
ive=20
you 30% of the total money at the end of the business and we shall soli=
dly=20
be by your side till the end of the transaction. I want you to consider=
this=20
business as an urgent matter and a secret business always. Please you a=
re=20
advice to reply immediately and include your telephone and fax numbers =
with=20
your company=92s postal address to enable me to obtain the necessary do=
cuments=20
and send it to you. More detail information will be given to you as soo=
n as=20
you reply this letter.Thanking you for your concern and understanding.=20

Yours faithfully
Mr.Kenny Johnson=20

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam