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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:

• 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. )
  • "million us 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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Karimseidu <barrister.karimseidu@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:35:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Mr Karim faraday


DEAR SIR,
=A0
FIRST AND FOREMOST,I MUST SOLICIT YOUR STRICTEST CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSAC=
TION AND I PRAY THAT MY DECISION TO CONTACT YOU WILL BE GIVEN GENUINE APPRO=
VAL CONSIDERING THE FACTS WE HAVE NOT KNOWN EACH OTHER BEFORE, I WISH TO US=
E THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU.
=A0
I AM KARIM W FARADAY FROM LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA. I
WRITE TO INFORM YOU MY DESIRE TO INVEST, AND TO BUY A
LIVING HOUSE IN YOUR COUNTRY.
=A0
I AM THE FIRST SON OF MR. DAVID=A0 WEARH FARADAY , MY FATHER WAS A DIAMOND/=
GOLD MERCHANT IN MY COUNTRY.MY FATHER HAD A BULLET SHOT BY THE REBELS ON HI=
S WAY TRAVELING OUT OF MY COUNTRY WITH TWO OF MY YOUNGER SISTER'S DUE TO PR=
ESENT CRISIS THAT IS OCCURRING IN OUR COUNTRY (LIBERIA).
=A0
MY SISTER'S DIED ON THE SPOT WHILE U.N PEACE MAKER, KEEPING FORCE RESCUED M=
Y FATHER,HE WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL. TREATMENT WHICH HE LATER DIE=
D. BEFORE HE DIED HE REVEALED TO ME AND MY MOTHER ABOUT THE BOXES CONTAININ=
G ($3.500,000.00,MILLION US DOLLARS).
=A0
WHICH HE DEPOSITED WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN GHANA FOR SAFE KEEPING. MY FA=
THER DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY OF THE CONTENT OF THE BOXES TO THE SECURITY COMPA=
NY. TO AVIOD THE OFFICIALS FROM RAISING EYE BROWS TO THE FUNDS. PRESENTLY M=
Y MOTHER AND MYSELF ARE HERE IN GHANA TO NOTIFY THE SECURITY COMPANY FOR TH=
E CLAIMS, AND WE ARE STAYING IN THE REFUGEE CAMP.
=A0
THEREFORE I WANT YOU TO LECTURE ME ON HOW BEST WE CAN INVEST THIS MONEY, BE=
CAUSE MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO INVEST THIS MONEY IN AFRICA=
TO AVOID SUSPICIONS, AND DUE TO MARKET INSTABILITY COUPLED WITH ECONOMIC A=
ND POLITICAL INSTABILITY FACING AFRICAN COUNTRIES, THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO I=
NVEST IN ABROAD. FOR YOUR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, MY MOTHER AND MYSELF HAVE AGRE=
ED TO OFFER YOU 25% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE MONEY.
=A0
WE HAVE ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS COVERING THE DEPOSIT
AND THE OWNERSHIP WHICH I CAN SEND TO YOU THROUGH FAX
ON REQUEST.
=A0
NOTE:
I HAVE NEVER DISCLOSED THIS TO ANY PERSON APART
FROM YOU,SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP THIS TRANSACTION AS A TOP
SECRET TO YOURSELF ALONE.WHICH I WILL WANT YOU TO
FORWARD ACROSS TO ME YOUR DIRECT TEL/FAX NUMBER FOR
MORE INFORMATIONS ABOUT THIS TRANSACTION.
=A0
I AM WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT AND POSITIVE FEEDBACK.
BEST REGARDS,
KARIM=A0 FARADAY

=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam