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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:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2280704854 (Togo, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr Fredrick Chiluba <drfredrick_chiluba@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: drfredrickc@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:02:18 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: I await your prompt response.


DR BARRISTER FREDRICK CHILUBA ESQ,
ELRAHIM.CHAMBERS SERVICES 14,
147 ADIDIGO LOME TOGO WEST AFRICA
TEL: +228-0704854.
 
Attention:

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr. Jorge Johnson. I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I wish to notify you that late Engr. Jorge made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of (US$25.5million) to you in the Codicil and last testament to his WILL.

This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true. Being a widely traveled man, he must have been in contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good. Engr. Jorge until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers.

According to him this money is to support your humanitarian activities and to help the poor and the needy in our society. Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant time.

I await your prompt response.

Yours in Service,

Dr Barrister Fredrick Chiluba.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam