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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 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)
  • "you will be entitled to 30%" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "bonsu davis" <bonsusuoi@gmail.com>
Reply-To: davisbonsu01@voila.fr
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2008 10:49:19 +0000
Subject: REPLY NOW


Dear

How are you and your daily activities including your family? Hope everybody
is fine. Though we've not met before, I AGYEI STANLEY got your contact
through Accra Chamber of commerce here in Accra Ghana. I am a citizen of
Sierra Leon, only son to the Minister of Mines and Energy who was killed by
the rebels during the war in my country. My father died and left behind
physical cash of US$5.7 Million Dollars which he safely kept in a Security
Finance Company during his regime in the office.

I need your help to claim this money from the security company and invest
this money in any profitable business of your choice in your country. I am
hereby soliciting your assistance to be my foreign partner because I've not
been outside Africa before in my life. So I don't want to make any costly
mistake that will make me lose my money.

You will be entitled to 30% of the total sum for your assistance. All I want
is for you to receive the money and send invitation letter for me to join
you. Your urgent reply will enable me to arrange with the Security Finance
Company to move this money through their special Diplomatic Courier Services
to your country. For you to claim and send me an invitation letter to join
you in your country for my investment.

All the necessary documents of deposit from the Security Company are with
me. In your reply, please include your private telephone and fax numbers.
Thanks for your co-operation.

My best regards.
AGYEI STANLEY

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam