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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
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• 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:
  • "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)
  • "waiting for your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Martins Akigan" <martinsakigan3@me.by>
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 13:14:20 +0100
Subject: Immediate reply


Transfer of $ 36.7Million USDollars

Dear Partner
This message might meet you in utmost surprise however,it's just my urgent
need for a foreign partner that made me contact you for this transaction, I
am a banker by profession from COTONOU-REPUBLIC OF BENIN in west Africa and
currently holding the post of auditing general.

I have the opportunity of transfering the left over funds $36.700.000.00
Million United State Dollars belonging to our deceased client who died in
the sharter plane which crashed on mount kenyan in the kenyan city of
sumburu on 21st july 2003 to any foreign account.

I discovered this deposit in our auditing course You can confirm the
genuiness of the deceased death by clicking on this website:
www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.html

Hence, I am inviting you for a business deal where this funds $36.700.000.00
United State Dollars can be shared between us in the ratio 60/40 if you
agree to my business proposal.
Eagerly waiting for your urgent response please
Yours
Mr Martins Akigan

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam