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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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 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.
  • mohammedmustafa77@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "dr. mohammed mustafa" <mohammedmustafa77@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 00:44:26 +0100
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE


FROM THE DESK OF DR. MOHAMMED MUSTAFA
DIRECTOR, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
SOCIAL SERVICES, DAKAR -SENEGAL
PHONE: 002214439619
Prsonal Email: mohammedmustafa77@yahoo.com
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

DEAR FRIEND,

TRANSFER OF US$25.5 MILLION INTO A PERSONAL/COMPANY'S OFFSHORE ACCOUNT

Based on the information gathered from the Ministry of Trade and Industry,we intend to solicit your assistance on this transaction with you on the assumption that you will not disappoint us.

We have Twenty Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$25,500,000.00) which we made over time from over inflated contracts in my Ministry (Federal Ministry of Health and Social Services).

We are seeking your assistance and permission to remit this amount into your account or any other nominated account you can provide for us. Your commission will be 20% of the total sum, 10% for expenses and the remaining 70% is for my
colleagues and myself.

Could you please notify me of your acceptance to carry out this transaction urgently by e-mail only on the receipt of this message. Kindly, acknowledge the receipt of this letter by sending to me by email a copy of this letter with your private Tel. And Fax number. I shall in return inform you of the modalities for a formal application to secure the necessary approvals for the immediate release of this fund into your account.

Thanks for your co-operation.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Mohammed Mustafa,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam