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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)
  • "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)
  • "million 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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Thompson George <drthompsongeorge35@yahoo.com.ph>
Date: Sun, 24 May 2009 06:26:41 +0800 (SGT)
Subject: confidential


Dear Friend,
I am koffi kwaku a 17 years old boy. I am sorry if this mail will come to you as an embarrassment or a surprise, I  just felt like emptying myself to you, after my fasting and prayers, I decided to confide in you, as i am facing with total frustration and hardship because of war in Darfur-Sudan here in Africa. My Ernest prayer is that you find this mail in good faith and blessings.
 
I am presently residing in Buduburiam Refugee Camp, Accra-Ghana where homeless and victims of war live.
 
I have decided to contact you with greatest delight and personal respect. Well, I am the only left son of late  Dr. Kolonga MOSOGAR the former AND Late Minister of Mineral Resources Diamond and  Mining Corporation, he was killed six months ago during the Rebels war raiding. He was murdered in cold blood with my mother and my two brothers, i am alive today because i was in school before the war started, oh my God, I feel like crying writing this message to you. May their souls rest in perfect peace, Amen. Few days after their death, i went home to move our properties to a safe place and i found a Deposit Receipt he made with a Security Company here in Ghana, where he deposited a valuable Trunk Box containing USD$20 million dollars cash.
 
Thereafter, i contacted the Security Company with this document and they confirmed the deposit of the Trunk Box by my late father is still on existence.
Based on this, I solicit for your assistance to transfer this ASSET of mine into your Possession. My uncles in Africa are all desperate for money so i cannot relate this matter to them else they will kill me and take over my inheritance. I am trusting you and I will please want you to handle this transaction based on the trust I have established on you because i am too young to handle this transfer at the moment. Please my beloved, let me take you as my guardian for your assistance in this transaction, I have lost everything in life and only you can restore my hope, my life, my happiness and my love that i have lost in a war some months ago.
The security of this business is very important to me and as such, I would like you to keep this business very confidential. If you are willing to assist me, please kindly reply me immediately as we have further discussion and agreement on how to proceed further.
 
Waiting your responds.
==
17 Years old.
+233249597500


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam