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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "dearest one," (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. )
  • "million united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: <taalie_edward001@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 18:31:28 +0900 (JST)
Subject: INGOOD FAITH

DEAREST ONE,
I KNOW THAT THIS MIGHT SOUND SO STRANGE TO YOU SINCE WE HAVE NOT MET BEFORE.
BUT LET ME QUICKLY INTRODUCE MYSELF, I AM MISS TAALIE EDWARD
I AM 23 YEARS OLD MY FATHER WAS A GREAT POLITITIAN AND AN OIL BARON BUT TODAY AS I AM WRITING TO YOU MY FATHER IS DEAD
BUT BEFORE HIS DESATH HE DEPOSITED THE SUM OF 5.5 MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS IN A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN COTE D' IVORE. HE DEPOSITED THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY AS FAMILY VALUEABLE PROPERTY IN A BOX. THE SECURITY COMPANY DOES NOT KNOW THAT IT CONTAINS MONEY.
SO I WANT A GOD FEARING PERSON THAT I CAN TRUST WHO WILL NOT BETRAY ME WHEN THE MONEY IS THERE TO HELP ME RETREIVE THIS BOX AND TAKEN TO YOUR COUNTRY FOR INVESTMENT. SO PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AND I WILL TELL YOU HOW WE CAN DO THINGS TOGETHER. PLS FOR YOUR INFORMETION YOU CAN STILL CONTANT ME ON
THIS EMAIL ADDRESS . THE EMAIL IS .

YOURS SINCERELY,
TAALIE.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam