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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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: memouna_sankoh@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:49:08 +0100
Subject: Reply


Dear,

I am contacting you to let you know my desire to establish a charity
foundation
in your country with the sum US$:12.000,000 (Twelve Million dollars) which
I inherited from my late husband. He died with our two children in beach
cruising.

It is my desire to see that this money is invested to any organization of
your choice in your country and distributed each year among the charity
Organizations, motherless baby's home, mosques, churches, Schools,
supporting destitute aged men and women or whatever you may have in mind
that will be to the benefit of the less fortunate. For your effort,you will
have 20% of the total fund.

I took this decision because I was raised from a motherless baby's home and
presently, I'm hospitalized here in (CHINA)where I am undergoing
treatment for my up coming surgery operation.

As soon as I receive your response confirming your acceptance to claim the
deposit on my behalf, I will give you all the relevant information that will
authorise the release of the money to you as my duly assigned
representative.

I hope to hear from you urgently.

Yours Sister,
Mrs Memouna Sankoh

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam