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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:
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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)
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: <hammabaruna@centrum.cz>
Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:00:57 +0200
Subject: Dear Friend


Dear Friend

It is with heart full of hope that I write to seek your candid assistance in the context below: I am Hamma Baruna the son of late Dr. Kala Baruna, who was the Director in charge of Mines and Natural Resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he was killed in the Civil War in my country.  Now, my mother and I are presently seeking political Refuge in Ghana.

I am writing this mail to seek for your assistance to receive the total sum of $7,500,000 (Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only), and I would want you to be our leading partner in any viable and profitable business ventures in your country. Our areas of interest for investments are buying of estates; if possible buying of shares from reliable companies in your country. Any new ideas of investment would be highly appreciated too.

SOURCE OF THE FUND: When my father was a director in the ministry of mines and natural resources he was the link between the foreign buyers of DIAMONDS and the Congo Government. Just before the outbreak of the civil war, there was some payments made to the Government of our foreign buyers for the diamonds they purchased. In the process, he diverted the total sum of $7.5Million Dollars Only out of Congo in form of "DIPLOMATIC CONSIGNMENT" to a Security &amp; Diplomatic Organization in LONDON in disguise of "Precious Materials".The consignments Tag Number: SUD/HSL/2039-DB2006. It may interest you to know that nobody can trace our identity or our where about except you that I am revealing it to now. Therefore, keep it secret to yourself only. If you are interested and willing to assist us, all the details relating to the deposit of this funds will be given to you, so as to enable you clear the consignment containing this funds in LONDON, since it is NOT deposited in our family name for safety and security Purposes.

I am looking forward to doing this business with you and solicit your absolute confidentiality and honesty in this transaction. For your assistance, you will be highly compensated, by giving you a very nice percentage of the total Sum, which is subject to negotiations as soon as I receive your urgent reply. Get back to me via my email to enable us discuss more elaborately.

I await your speedy and firm interest in this transaction for our mutual benefit. Do send me your private telephone number for easy communication.

Thanks and remain blessed!

Yours Sincerely,
Hamma Baruna

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam