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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:
  • "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. )
  • "abidjan" (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.
  
• 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.
  • mikekerom5@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MIKE KEROM" <m_kerom12@ig.com.br>
Reply-To: mikekerom5@yahoo.fr
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:38:43 +0200
Subject: From: Kerom family


From: Kerom family
(UNHCR)Camp Porto-novo
Benin republic
Email; mikekerom5@yahoo.fr

Dear Good Friend.
Your contact was reviewed after devoted prayer session to our divine
redeemer who can only strenghting you resolve to help us out.
We are the immediate family of late Col Ibrahim Kerom, the rebel commander
in ivory coast that was killed in Bouake county
on 7/02/2004.

I with my mother and two sisters escaped into Porto-novo Benin republic
after the incident when it became clear that the central government Abidjan
wanted us eliminated by all means. Presently we staying with united nations
high commission for refugee (UNHCR) here for security reasons. Just last
week we received some vital information and copies of documents from his
lawyer back home proving that our father had some deposit in a Security
Company Now we have opened up communication with the security company and
they have confirmed been in position of some United States Dollars USD$
11.300,000 only in his favor and have agreed to releasing same upon our
request but not until provide valid proof as his next of kin.

Now for the fact that none of us here possessed any valid traveling
documents because of the circumstances of our exit from home, we are afraid
that we will run into trouble if we request for the repatriation of the
deposit to this place, hence we are kindly requesting your assistance to
help us receive the deposit in your country. We are ready to offer you some
reasonable portions of the deposit if you can oblige us your help.

Further information will be advance to you once you
indicate your interest. Please send your reply through email;
mikekerom5@yahoo.fr
Yours Sincerly,
Mike Ibrahim Kerom.
Tel:229 93-47-69-51

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam