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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)
  • "million united states 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 next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +27734608350 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Ricky Mandela <rickymandela78@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:24:21 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Urgent Response





Dear Friend,=20
=A0
How are you? Hope you are fine! Anyway, I have an urgent proposal I wish to=
transact with you and it can only be handle by a foreigner. Therefore, I w=
ill like you to be my partner in this transaction which is why I have conta=
cted you. Meanwhile, I got your email from yahoo tourist search while I was=
searching for a foreign partner. However, I am assuring you of reliability=
and capability to champion this business opportunity by the grace of almig=
hty God.
=A0
I am a banker by profession, I currently held the post of Accounting and au=
diting department in our bank;=A0NEDBANK=A0 here in South Africa.
=A0
Presently in my department, I have the privilege of transferring a total su=
m of=A0Twenty million United States dollars ($20 000 000.00) been an abando=
ned money formally belong to one of our deceased customer who died along si=
de his entire family in a plane crash eight years ago.=20
=A0
Hence; I am inviting you for a deal whereby both of us will benefit and sha=
re the money in a ratio of 60 % / 40% if you agree to my proposal. I shall =
forward the full details to you as soon as I receive your reply. More so, y=
ou can indicate your interest and willingness by providing the below inform=
ation for mutual understanding and easy communication.
=A0
(1) YOUR FULL NAME...............
(2) YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS...............
(3) YOUR TEL AND FAX NUMBER.............
=A0
Look forward to you immediate reply.
=A0
Thanks & Best Regards,
=A0
Mr.Ricky Mandela
Tel:+27 73 460 83 50
=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam