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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:
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Richard=20Owusu?= <rich_oxp5@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: richy_owusuxp3@yahoo.in
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:04:26 +0530 (IST)
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: rich_oxp5@yahoo.in



- Greetings to youMy name is Master Richard Owusu, the only Son and child of late Nana Ahmed Owusu. My late father was a gold dealer in Accra- Ghana before his demise (death) on the 16th day of November 2006 in a private hospital. But two days to his death, he called me and gave me some documents and told me that he deposited the total sum of USD$10,560,000.00 in a trunk box with a security company. He advised me to find a reliable, God fearing and a business minded person to assist me in retrieving the box from the security company. More so, he told that he registered it as a family bond / treasures, so the security company is not aware of the original content. I contacted you to assist me because my uncle has confiscated all other assets after his death and my mother is no where to be found thus she is running for her dear life after several attempt to kill her by my uncle. Consequently, I relocated to a near by West African country to hide because of my wicked uncle. I will not hesitate to send you all the documents and 15% of the total sum will be giving to you for your kind assistance to helping me make a proper investment in your country. I want you to retrieve this box from the company as soon as possible because I have no money to pay my hotel bills and other expenses. Contact me immediately through my private email so that I will furnish with full details. Thanks and God bless you Master Richard.A.Owusu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam