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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "million 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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Billy Bangura <jtambo@postino.it>
Reply-To: d_dada@postino.it
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2006 12:24:55 +0000
Subject: Confidential!!


Dear sir,
CONFIDENTIAL
Compliment of the day!
With the good reference made of your esteemed personal/office by the chamber
of commerce here in Accra Ghana, I hereby wish to commence talks with you
on a high confidential level.
I am Billy Bangura presently a political refugee in Accra Ghana the son
of the former MINISTER OF FINANCE of SIERRA LEONE, MR THAIMU BANGURA a gold
dealer.
During the recent crisis in my country, my late father was captured and killed by the rebels who accused him of mis-appropriation of funds and embezzlement.
Shortly after his death, I and the rest of the family escaped to Ghana-West Africa region for safety.
He [my late father] left some document with me indicating consignment deposit made with a security company here in Ghana before his death, which the content US $50M {Fifty Million United States Dollars}.
I and my family are soliciting for your personal assistance with top arrange and to receive this money on behalf of my family and ensure that the money is utilized wisely in a country of stable Economy like your country. The purpose of the money will be for a viable investment after we have collected
the money from the security Vault Company. The box was deposited for safe-keeping and your assistance is required because our status as political refugee does not permit us to handle large sum of money here, and you will also be excepted to provide us with information on investment opportunities in your country. We do not wish to contact any of my late father's business
comrades/partner because we do not know who exactly caused his death.
I and my family reason of contacting you is for your co-operation for you to assist the family in the removing of the fund out of the security company in your favour and ours as well. Moreover, to help us use the fund carefully for investment. All the necessary document are at my reach. With confidence in you as a trust-worthy person to act in good faith! I will introduce you to an attorney as my father's foreign partner who will assist you with legal proceedings.
Since your particulars will appear on every vital document as the owner of the fund this transaction will attract 30% for the assist you are rendering.
I look forward to your reply.
Best regards,
Billy Bangura.
[For: The Family]

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam