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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
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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states 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 united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing 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: "Lt Col Jafar.B.Dansuki." <jubrilllawal@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: optionalxie@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:33:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Contact me Immediately


Dear Friend,
 
It would have been more respectable if I had the opportunity to meet with you, but as a matter of urgency, I decided to email you regardless the abuse of the Internet. Please take your time and do not regard this venture worthless or deceptive. Accept my apologies if this proposition may appear embarrassing to your esteem personality; you can decline it and still make it confidential if you are not interested.
 
Conflict dialog is like an appetizer for crisis in most 3rd-world countries.. As Head Comptroller of Military Prison, I accepted Twenty Million United State Dollars (USD$20M) offer from some group of Foreign Attaché in collaboration with United Nations Coalition for Society Peace-in Africa to escape delegates of ECOWAS election observers and two foreign media correspondent from prison under my supervision. I am presently on probe and in custody for masterminding their disappearance, but have earlier corresponded with my employers to conclude my cash payment arrangement.
 
For the safety of my payment due to the surveillance on my Bank accounts, I choose to appoint a partner among other payment option given by my employers. I plead to entrust this fund to you for safe-keep, and I am offering you Two Million United States Dollars (USD$2M) to help me receive this payment on my behalf. For security reason, my employers will not permit me to disclose documented evidence of my accomplished assignment; therefore will encourage you to give this venture top priority in your heart. I guarantee you that my employers are world-known emissaries for world peace, and their proposition is genuine.
 
If you are interested, please provide your Mobile phone number and my employer will give you for further details. I wait for your response at your earliest convenient.
 
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Lt Col Jafar.B.Dansuki.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam