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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • elvispowell2008@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Powell" <elvispowell2008@centrum.sk>
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:15:48 +0200
Subject: DEAREST ONE.


DEAREST ONE.
 
 
GREETINGS AND BEST REGARDS.
 
I AM CONTACTING YOU FOR URGENT HELP.
I GOT YOUR NAME AND CONTACT FROM THE IVOIRIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.
 
I AM ELVIS POWEL, THE ONLY CHILD OF LATE CHIEF GILBERT POWEL WHO WAS A WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT BASED IN ABIDJAN, THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF IVORY COAST BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS ON A BUSINESS.
 
MY MOTHER DIED WHEN I WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND SINCE THEN, MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL .
 
BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 29TH JUNE 2005 , HE TOOK ME TO A BANK WHERE HE HAS A SUM OF US$5,300,000 (FIVE MILLION THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND, UNITED STATES DOLLARS) LEFT IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT IN A LOCAL BANK HERE IN ABIDJAN.
 
MY FATHER USED MY NAME AS HIS ONLY SON FOR THE NEXT OF KIN IN
DEPOSITING OF THE MONEY.
 
MY FATHER ADVICED ME THAT IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR DEATHN. THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFER THIS MONEY AND USE IT FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSE, (HOTEL MANAGEMENT).
 
I NOW WANT TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY AND THAT IS WHY I ASK FOR YOUR HELP.
 
I AM WILLING TO OFFER YOU 15% OF THE TOTAL SUM AS COMPENSATION FOR
YOUR EFFORT/INPUT AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS  MONEY TO YOUR ACCOUNT .
 
INDICATE YOUR OPTION TOWARDS ASSISTING ME AS I BELIEVE THAT THIS
TRANSACTION WOULD BE CONCLUDED WITHIN SEVEN (7) DAYS YOU SIGNIFY
INTEREST TO ASSIST ME.
 
GET BACK TO ME THROUGH THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS:(elvispowell2008@yahoo.com)
 
ANTICAIPTING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
ELVIS. POWEL

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam