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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "huge amount of money" (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 us 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • faty_hinga@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs Fatima Hinga" <fat_hinga@she.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: faty_hinga@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2006 14:40:26 +0700
Subject: I NEED YOUR HELP TO INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY

Mrs Fatima Hinga
Dear Sir/Madam,
Thanks for finding time to go through my mail. I am Mrs. Fatima Hinga, the wife of Lieutenant Colonel John Garang Hinga the Leader of Sudanese People's Liberation Govement (SPLM) one of the leading political parties in Sudan which was formed in 1983. He died during the out brake of the recent civil war in Sudan. Before his death, he held many important offices which includes being the prime minister in a coalition government between 1986 to 1989.
He also was the leader of the Umma Party a strong political organization in Sudan. After his tenure as coalition prime minister, he was made to be in-charge of the payment of Sudanese Media communications department in 2001. My husband was killed by a group known as Sadiq al Mahdi at the on set of the civil war while fighting for the liberation of the Sudanese people from the hands of a dictatorship government.
I am 51 years old now and seriously ill although I am now receiving treatment in a hospital here in Thailand. During the period of our marriage we were blessed with a male child by name Musa Hinga who is also here taking care of me. After the death of my husband, I inherited a huge amount of money (25million US dollars) which my late husband deposited with a Security Company in Thailand for safe keeping.
I now decided to contact you to assist me and my son to claim this money from where it was deposited and probably guide us in investing the fund in a worthwhile flourishing business over there. I hereby ask for your help and assistance. Although I am a novice in business, I have an eye on rigid properties. Your advice on other areas of private sector will be highly appreciated.
I believe that you would be of great help in guiding my son to a successful business investment in your country even when I am gone.
I will appreciate if you will show interest in collaborating with us, as this transaction will benefit both of us on joint venture partnership.
Furthermore I am ready to give you a good negotiable percentage cash reward for your assistance. Detailed information on other proceedings will be made available to you upon receiving your reply showing interest in collaborating with us as I look forward to your urgent reply.
Sincerely Yours
Fatima Hinga.
Email faty_hinga@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam