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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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • sherif_adams01@cooltoad.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Sherif Adams" <sherif_adams20@sohu.com>
Reply-To: sherif_adams01@cooltoad.com
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:54:44 GMT
Subject: Best Regards


FROM THE DESK OF MR SHERIF ADAMS
Auditting Department,
Bank Of Africa.
Cotonuo Benin Republic
Email: sherif_adams01@cooltoad.com

Dear Friend,

I have a proposal for you - this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will. I am 50, and work with a bank (one of the African leading banks in the West Coast). Here in this bank existed a dormant account for the past years which belonging Mr Hamilton Creek an American national who died with his entire family after his car ran into a Trailer load of Groundnut Oil, When I discovered that there had been no deposits nor withdrawals from this account for this long period, I decided to carry out a system investigation and discovered that non of the family member nor relations of the late person is aware of this account. This is the story in a nutshell.

Now I want an account overseas where the bank will transfer this funds.Thereafter, I had planned to destroy all related documents for this account. It is a careful network and for the past eleven months I have worked out everything to ensure a hitch-free operation. The amount is not so much at the moment and plus all the accumulated interest the balance in this account stands at-(US$ 22 million US dollars).Twenty Two million Dollars Only

Now my questions are:-

1. Can you handle this project?
2. Can I give you this trust?
3. What will be your commission? If you accept to work with me in solidarity.
4. mail with phone&fax number...........

Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible through my private email address: (sherif_adams01@cooltoad.com

Finally, it is my humble prayer that the information as contained herein be accorded the necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy it deserves. I Expect your urgent response if you can handle this project.
Respectfully yours,

Mr Sherif Adams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam