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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 american 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.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • mwss@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: mwss@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:11:19 +0100
Subject: attention.,Your Investment Knowhow & Consent Needed.


Dear Sir,

My name is Wanga Mobutu., son to the late president Mobutu Sese-Seko of
Congo. Currently I reside in London., my mother and the rest of the family
are in South Africa on exile. Can we partner together., We have Cash Money,
Gold and Diamonds of over Two hundred and Seventy Million American
Dollars.,[US$270M].,hidden someplace by our late father [Late President
Mobutu of Congo]. Now we do not want anything on record bearing the name
Mobutu because the former or the present president of Congo will confiscate
or freeze anything belonging to our family.

At the same time we wish to invest discreetly in a stable economy.
I can co-operate with you if you co-operate and respond favorable to this
request. Indicate your interest via my reply-to email OR better still call
my London direct telephone line. [ + 44- 7924-068279]. We shall discuss
modalities of retrieving from vault, person to person on telephone.During
this discussion you can table your terms.

Best Wishes.



Dr Mobutu W. Sese-Seko.




--
Dr.Mobutu W. Sese-Seko.
mwss@sify.com
LONDON.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam