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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. )
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • kelvinkofi1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: kelvin_kofi@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:27:39 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dear Sir, please My name kelvin


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: kelvinkofi1@yahoo.com



- My name is Kelvin kofi, 24yrs old and the only son of King Kwame R.Kofi.My Mum died when I was 6yrs old and have leaved with my father in Aseprokom (XV) Royal Kingdom before his death in a plane crash in 2004 on his last business trip to Saudi Arabia for Gold Transaction. Before the Death of my father in 2004,he had told me on different occasion, that he had Deposited Gold Treasures Box worth of 120 kg and money valued to us$1.7M in a Security Company as a family treasure, agreeing with the security company that his foreign partner is the beneficiary while I , his only son is the next of kin. After the death of my father in 2004,my father's relatives want me dead so that they can inherit all my late fathers Wealth, and I have to run away from the Royal palace to stay with my late fathers Attorney in the capital city of Accra-Ghana. I have just finished my Higher Education, and have decided to claim the deposited items and dispose the 120 kg Gold treasures abroad to any interested buyer and to avoid been eliminated by my late fathers relatives, for this reason I have decided to contact you, and solicit for your utmost assistance in claiming the money , gold and for you to help me to settle down in your country and dispose my gold. My late fathers Attorney have the legal documents, and are willing to procure the power of attorney in your name to enable you stand as my late father’s foreign Business partner and final Beneficiary to this 120kg Gold and money .I have mapped out 30% for your assistance, 10% will be for any expenses that will be incurred on the pursuit of the transaction/ claim process, and the balance of 60% will be for Investment in your country. In the event that you have decided to give me the much needed assistance that I requested, kindly forward me your complete detail enable me inform my late father’s lawyer to proceed, so that we can contact the Security Company for the release of 120kg Gold treasure box and money . Waiting for your favorable response, Yours Sincerely, Kelvin kofi,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam