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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:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • ginakamo@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Gina Kamo <ginakamo@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: ginakamo@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:48:27 -0800 (PST)
Subject: I OFFER YOU 30% FOR ASSISTING ME


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

I OFFER YOU 30% FOR ASSISTING ME

- Dear Sir / Madam, Compliment of the day, I am Gina kamo, the first daughter of Mr. Joseph Kamo from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa, merchant in Mines and Industry. He was killed by the rebels on his way to Capital city. Before he was killed, He told me he deposited one trunk box containing $7.2 million U.S Dollars with a Security Company in Ghana for safe keeping and instruct that I make claim it to look after my self with the help of a foreign partner to guide me and I am now in Accra Ghana to make claims of the FUND. I intend to invest this money in your country, hence my contacting you to advice me how best I can invest this money in your country and buy a house there. For your assistance I offer you 30% of the total money. I have all the vital documents covering the deposit fund and the ownership which I can send on request, I have never disclosed this to any person apart from you, so you have to keep this very very confidential, Send me your direct phone and fax numbers for more information on your reply. Yours faithfully, Gina Kamo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam