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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:
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: sarahmustafa004 <sarahmustafa004@gmail.com>
Reply-To: sarahmustafa001@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 19:21:10 +0100
Subject: Dear One,


Dear One,

Please sorry for this unexpected mail requesting for your assistance on the
basis of investment. My name is Miss Sarah Mustafa 19 years, I am the only
child of
Late Dr. and Mrs. Lokko Mustafa who was shot to death by hired assissans on
their way home in November 2007 here in Abidjan Ivory Coast. My father was
formerly the director of cocoa processing and exporting company here in
Abidjan
the capital city.

It was after their death that I was made to know that Dr. and Mrs..
Lokko Mustafa do not have a child but they adopted me to be their child. At
this very moment the family do not want to accept me again, they have
seized
all the properties and out of fear to save my life I have to run to an
orphanage
camp under the reform church of God to hide myself.

Now as a legally adopted child, I had wanted to follow the legal way but the
Church Pastor made me to realized that I may loose my life after all since I
do
not know the source of the death of my step parents.

Here in the orphanage camp, I took some my late fathers files where I
discovered deposite documents of Two Million Five hundred Thousand US
Dollars
U$2,500,000.00 deposited by my late step Parents using my name as the next
of
kin in depositing the money. I went to the bank fast with the documents and
it
was confirmed by the bank Manager that such deposite was made by my late
father
but because of my age I can not have access to the money yet unless I
present a
guardian who will stand for me and receive the fund or I wait till I am
25years
of age.

Please, I am not mandating you but humbly seeking your kind understanding to
stand as my legal guardian and trustee and help me to receive and invest
this
fund in your country, you will also assist me to come over there for my
studies.
I wait for your mail if you are pleased to assist me.

God bless you
Miss Sarah Mustafa

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam