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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "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. )
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "charity loko" <mrscharityloko@colombia.com>
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 21:28:09 +0000
Subject: From: Mrs Charity Loko


From: Mrs Charity Loko
Abidjan Cote ´Ivoire,

Dear Beloved ,

I am Mrs Charity Loko from Liberia. I am married to Dr Konsongo Loko who
worked with our Embassy in France for nine years before he died in the year
2001. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a
brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both
born again Christian. Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a
child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When my late
husband was alive he deposited THE SUM OF U.S$25.3 MILLION (TWENTY FIVE
MILLION THREE HUNDRED THOSAND UNITED STATED DOLLARS) IN ONE METALIC TRUNK
BOX .HE DEPOSITED THIS MONEY WITH A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN ABIDJAN COTE
D'IVOIRE,HE TOLD ME THAT HE DID NOT MADE THE COMPANY KNOW THE REAL CONTENT
OF THE TRUNK BOX.

MY DEAR YOU PREPARE YOUR TRAVELLING DOCUMENTS COME DOWN HERE IN ABIDJAN
BOTH OF US WILL GO AND CLAIM THE TRUNK BOX OUT FROM THE SECURE SECURITY
COMPANY YOU WILL CARRY THE MONEY OUT IMMDIATELY TO YOUR DESTINATION.

Presently now this money is still in the custody of the Security Company and
you are the only person that i made to know that the content of the Trunk
Box contains huge amount of Money so you have to keep this top Secret.

Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next eight months
due to cancer problem. Having known my condition I decided to donate this
fund to a church,organization or good person that will utilize this money
the way I am going to instruct herein.
I want a church,organization or good person that will use this fund for
orphanages, widows and for other peoples that needs help and also
propagating the word of God and to endeavour that the house of God is
maintained.

The Bible made us to understand that"Blessed is the hand that giveth.look
this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money
and my husband relatives are not Christians not even good at all because
they are the one that responsible for the death of my husband in other to
have all my late husband properties and I don't want my husband's efforts to
be used by those that conspired for his death.

This is why I am taking this decision, I am not afraid of death hence I know
where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord.
Exodus 14 VS 14 says that "the lord will fight my case and I shall hold my
peace". I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of
my health hence the presence of my husband's relatives around me always.

I don't want them to know about This development and I know that With God
all things are possible, As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you
the deposit information and also issue a letter of authorisation to the
Security Company that will prove you the present beneficiary of this money
also want you,church or the organisation to always pray for me because the
lord is my only shephard.My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy
Christian.

Whoever that Wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth.
Please always be prayerful all through your life.Contact me on the this
email address and any delay in your reply will give me room in souring
another good person, church,organization for this same purpose. Please
assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein.

Hoping to receive your response immediately.

Remain blessed in the Lord.

Mrs Charity Loko

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam