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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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)
  • "the consignment" (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)
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 15:11:51 -0800 (PST)
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED





























Dear Friend,
=A0
My name is Gift Blessing from Zimbabwe, my father Senator Samuel Oakey and =
was a member of the opposition party fighting for the growth of Zimbabwe bu=
t unfortunately he was=A0 suddenly assassinated by the men of the president=
Robert Mugabe.
=A0
My father before his death he kept the total sum of 11.5million British Pou=
nds Sterling in a save box which I now act on my mother's instructions to c=
arry the boxes out of the country for fear of the rebels taking advantage o=
ver us. As i left my country, i came straight Ghana with an address of my f=
ather's friend which I took as a guide but getting to Ghana border i was in=
terrogated by the customs, and i told the custom officers that the content =
of the consignment is family valuables but all effort to contact my father'=
s friend through the address I had on me proved abortive but the Custom ins=
isted on seizing this box if I don't provide proof of ownership but I insta=
ntly took that I was asked to deliver this family valuable to a sister in A=
ccra and they asked but since I am a foreigner I decided also to mentioned =
that the errand was made by you in other for them not to trespass into open=
ing the consignment to discovering of what the content is.
=A0
But after series of questioning and my insisting on same statement, one of =
the Custom Officers had compassion on me and promised to help me for the re=
lease of the consignment box. So, if you be willing to save the situation h=
ere, kindly reply this email to ascertain your willingness and readiness so=
that I be able to forward to you the Custom Officer details and also give =
you more information to guide you in relating with the Custon Officer in=A0=
oder not to contradict my already given statement..
=A0
=A0Please, I expect to hear from you soonest.
=A0
Thanks
Gift Blessing=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam