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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "i got your address from " (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Joham Benjamin <brianoslen1@live.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:21:20 -0400
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME AND MY MOTHER




E-mail from
Joham Benjamin
The Son of Benjamin Williams in Zimbabwe.


PROPOSAL FOR URGENT ASSISTANCE.


My name is, Mr.Joham Benjamin, i am 20 years old the elder son of Mr.BENJAMIN WILLIAMS of Zimbabwe . This might be a surprise to you about where i got your contact address.I got your address from the Korean Christian association in google.com. During the current war against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the supports of our president Robert Mugabe to claim all the white-owned farms to his party members and his followers, he ordered all white farmers to surrender all farms to his party members and his followers.

My father is One of the best farmers in our country and because he did not support Mugabes ideas, Mugabe supports invaded my fathers farm and burnt everything in the farm, killing my father and made away with a lot of items in my fathers farm.

Before his death, my father had deposited (US$10.5 MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) with the Security Company in United Kingdom, London UK. After the death of my father, we decided to move to London UK where he had deposited the money in the Security Company as valuables.
So me, my Mun and my sister's decided to contact to helpus move this money out of London because as asylum seekers we are not allowed to operate any Bank Account within United Kingdom. We have agreed to offer you 50% of the total sum for your assistance, while 650% will be for me and my family to invest.

All i want you to do is to furnish me with your information such as: personal phone number, office/residential address, age, occupation and fax numbers for easy communication. You can contact me via email address. Note that this transaction is 100% Risk free and absolutely confidential.

Yours faithfully,

MR: Joham Benjamin
(FOR THE FAMILY)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam