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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • mah_coll4@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Collins Mahelo" <coll_mah10@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mah_coll4@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 05:19:06 +0100
Subject: Hello From Collins Mahelo,

Hello,

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not yet met before.I managed to get your contact details through the internet myself, Time is of importance and I and my sister are desperately looking for a person to assist us in this confidential transaction.

I am Collins Mahelo,son of the late leader of Unita Rebel of Angola who died on the 22nd February2002.

Before the death of my father he deposited the sum of USD15,000,000.00 in a trust security compnay for safe keeping only.All the related documents are intact with me and i have contacted the company .I am seeker pending when I get a foriegn partner because the monetary laws here which do not allow asylum seekers to operate any bank account.

Based on the above, I am contacting you so that you can help me invest this fund in your country hoping that you will remain trust worthy.
The fund was realised from gold and diamond sales when my late father was leading some region in our country.If you are ready I will give you all the information needed.

Yours sincerely,

Collins Mahelo
Nb= You can contact me on alternate Email is = (mah_coll4@yahoo.com)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam