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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:
  • "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)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
  • @yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "from mr ousman houseni" <ousman14@walla.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: ousman_houseni1@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 15:56:46 +0100
Subject: assalamuolakum

Hello Dear,
In view of my difficulties and problems in this country, I'm so pleased to have found someone like you in whom I can confide or at least talk to. My name is ousman houseni, a Liberian. I am here in Senegal as a refugee. I arrived here a year ago during the peak of our national crises (civil war) My father, ousman houseni was a military personel in the rebel camp. While serving in the Army, he deposited the sum of seven million one Hundred thousand USD cash($ 7.1 million us dollars cash) to my mother for my life inheritance.In a finance and security company here in Dakar Senegal.
He (my father) drowned in a river while attempting to cross during a battle with the government troops. I'm using this opportunity pleading for you to help me retrieve this money and transfer it into your account pending when I will come over to your country for investment. You will be compensated for all your efforts in actuallising this transaction with 15 percent of the total sun involved.
I expect your response immediately you receive this proposal.
I wait to hear from you soon through this email ousman_houseni2 @yahoo.com
Thanks

Yours Sincerely,

ousman Houseni

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam