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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:

• The following fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic immunity"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "trunk box" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "trunk boxes" (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)
  • "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: pipy prince <prince4life246@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2006 03:53:05 -0800 (PST)
Subject: i need your urgent reply


Dear friend,
I am Prince Otela, the first son of Chief J.Otela, of the
Northern part of Federal republic of Sierra – Leone.
My father was in the diamond-mining co-operation in Sierra
Leone. As a result of this, he was killed by the rebel in my country because of the political unrest in my country.
Before his death, he deposited a 2 trunk boxes containing 20kg of gold bars and 15 million dollars, in a security company here in Ghana for safe keeping and for the government, not to raise eye brow on him.
Right now I am in the United Nation sponsored refugee camp, in Ghana here in Ghana seeking for assistance before i found your contact through this means. But I have never discussed the issue with anybody except you for security reasons.

All the necessary documents, which my father used to deposit the 2 trunk boxes in the security
company, are with me. I want to use this medium to solicit for your
assistance so that the 2 trunk boxes can be transferred to your country, so that we can invest with it, in a lucrative investment. And I will like you to know that 10% shall be set aside for your assistance. Please I want this correspondence to remain confidential.

The consignment can come to you through a diplomatic means. the security company, is prepared to help carry the consignment,out of Ghana to your door step. The security company officials do travel on official assignment with diplomatic immunity, to pay offshore contractors;therefore,i want you to assist me as my foreign partner, in receiving the consignment.

Soon as you receive this proposal,pls. get back to me
then both of us can discuss the details, for your
better understanding.


Yours sincerely,
prince Otela.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam