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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:
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "can i completely trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22508512414 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • mart.philip14@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Philip Martins <mart.philip14@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 02:35:10 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Information from philip



From:=A0Philip Martins.
Abidjan. Cote D'Ivoire West Africa
Email: mart.philip14@yahoo.com
Phone: +225 0851 2414
Dearly One,
=A0
My warmest greeting to you in the name of the Lord.
I am Philip Martins Son of Chief George Martins, I inherited an important s=
um of money from my late father who died in the recent crisis in Cote d'Ivo=
ire. I wish to request for your assistance in investing this sum in lucrati=
ve venture or manufacturing and real estate management in your country. I h=
ave Five million, seven hundred thousand United State Dollars. USD($5,700,0=
00) to invest in this transaction and I will require your assistance in rec=
eiving the fund in your account in your country. I will gladly give you som=
e resonable percent from the total sum for your assistance.=20
=A0
Before his death on September 2007, he gave me all the necessary legal docu=
ments to the deposit of the fund in the bank, I am 20 years old and a unive=
rsity undergraduate and really don't know what to do. Now I want an account=
overseas where I can transfer this funds and after the transaction I will =
come and reside permanently in your country till such a time that it will b=
e convinient for me to return back home if I so desire. This is because I h=
ave suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant political crisis h=
ere in Ivory coast. The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my li=
fe. I also want to invest the fund under your care because I am ignorant of=
business world.
=A0
I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards. Your su=
ggestions and ideas will be highly regarded. Now permit me to ask these few=
questions:
1. Can you honestly help me from your heart?
2. Can I completely trust you?
3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you aft=
er the money is in your account?=20
=A0
Please, consider this and get back to me as soon as possible. Immedaitely I=
confirm your willingness, I will send to you my picture and also give you =
more details about myself and the bank were my late father deposited the fu=
nd, so that you can reach the bank and confirm the existence of the fund as=
well, because seeing is believing. Please always reply me through this my =
private email: mart.philip14@yahoo.com
=A0
Awaiting your immediate response and may God bless you for your effort.=20
With love,
Philip=A0Martins=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam