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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:
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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:
  • "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)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "can i completely trust you?" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: helen kofi <helen_kofi97@msn.com>
Reply-To: <kofihelen@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:59:35 +0000
Subject: urgent please.




GREETINGS,

I’m Helen Kofi and my twin brother Collins kofi from Liberia but live in Ghana please sir I don’t know you but I want your urgent assistance to receive my one truck box which contain $25million us dollar at the diplomatic courier office here in Accra ready to be ship.
I need your trust and confident to help US receive my consignment in your country so that I can leave Ghana with my family as soon as possible.
Now permit me to ask these few questions: 1. Can you honestly help me?2. Can I completely trust you? 3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you?
If you are interesting please contact me on this same email so that I give you more information about this.
Also I have all the legal documents for the consignment and my untied refugee Id to send you and my picture. 1. The box are now in the serenity company in Accra Ghana. 2. I need your mobile phone, fax number in clouding your office phone. So that it can enable as to contract you. 3. Your international passport. And driven lenience’s that we can know whom we are dealing with. 4. We will like you to come to Ghana and withes everything we are saying. Than to call them on phone or to contract them. Please make a chance to come. 5. As soon as you receive my message I will give you the contract of the serenity company. God bless youYours Daughterhelen kofi.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam