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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <johnsonmbeki@live.com>
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2008 13:57:50 +0000
Subject: DEAR FRIEND (YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS NEEDED)



Dear Friend, I am Mr Johnson Mbeki. I am currently working with One of the Rural Banks in South Africa as a regional branch manager. And now, I am in grip of funds; Thirty-One Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars($31.8m USD) readily available for you and me to share, and I am seeking for your cooperation to transfer this cash money to your position.
I realized these funds as part of unclaimed deposited funds by a deceased person who deals on Diamond and precious stones in Ghana before hiS death in 2003. Last year 2007 some funds where discovered unclaimed,and according to the Banking policy; such funds are to be taken to the "National Treasury"but was embezzled by some people, I don't want to fold my hands watch them again on this particular fund that has come as opportunity for me and you. Immediately I realized these funds $31.8m, I placed it on Sundry Escrow Account here in our bank in South Africa here without beneficiar information and no person knows about it and Because of my position as a regional manager in my bank,the code of conduct bureau forbids me from operating a foreign account,this is why I am contacting you.
Now I chose you as partner and what I want from you is to apply to our Bank head-office as the beneficiary of this fund to be transfer to you and only you as a foreigner can claim this money, while I will furnish you every prove/information as the true owner of this money. I am ready to share 40% of the thirty One million Eight hundred thousand dollars($31.8m) for you while 60% will be for me. As soon as the money $31.8m is transferred into your account, please keep my share, while I decide on which investment I will establish in your country. This transfer is a risk free transaction, this is bank to bank transfer. Kindly and urgently reply to me your willingness for successful transfer and give me your direct phone number so that we can have a live conversation regarding this proposal Yours truly,
Johnson Mbeki.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam