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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "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 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: MARY ABUBAKAR <maryabu@walla.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2006 20:27:21 +0100
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT


Dear Sir / Madam,
VERY IMPORTANT: reply through my alternative email: maryabubakar@message.com
In my quest for a reputable person to engage in a mutual business relationship, I got your contact through internet.As introduction, I am the only surviving daughter of late Chief Ibrahim ABUBAKAR, the paramount chief of Munsha District of SierreLeone who was killed on January 8 2002, by the trigger-happy rebels. Most unfortunately for me I came from a polygamous family, and a student but out of school because of this problem. During my father’s lifetime, he was actively engaged in ILLEGAL MINING AND SALES OF DIAMOND, from where he made his enormous wealth.
Prior to my father’s death, he left a "WILL" with his lawyer, which was made available to us upon Observation and conclusion of burial befitting of my father. And as the only daughter most of his properties were willed to me, most importantly is the sum of US$15M [fifteen million United States dollars} which he deposited in a private security company in BURKINA FASO which has a branch in Madrid Spain this is also among the inheritance from my deceased father.
Since introduction of this "WILL" all my father’s relatives have not been at peace with me, they were not happy how my father assigned all the enormous wealth to me. They have systematically and forcefully collected from me all documents of the properties "willed" to me. Not including a huge amount of money in one of the banks in SierreLeone which they could not withdraw due to a court order restraining either party from making withdrawals pending the determination of a litigation filled by my father’s relations challenging the "WILL"
Now since I am too hard for them the (relatives) to subdue, they were making attempts to kill me so that nobody can stop them from carrying out their act, as they have succeeded in killing my mother last year. Infact the fear and warning of killing has griped me so much that I could not bear it anyone, hence I ran away from our family house to live with a school mate of mine whose father is a military man, with advise of my father’s lawyer to safeguard my life and this US$15 million that was not known to them.
Considering my age and inexperienced in business and investment procedures, please I want you to help me in taking good custody of this funds and invest it in a profitable venture in a country where there is Economic and political stability.
If you assent to help me in this regard, we shall then discuss what I will give you in return for your assistance. And you will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with me upon which you shall proceed to the official premises of the Security Company to take delivery of the funds for further investment.
Please put into consideration my in capabilities in some respect, therefore I would prefer all correspondence to be through Email which is more secret and confidential, as I can not use my school mate father’s telephone to avoid jeopardizing my stay there. Every document concerning these funds is with me, upon request it will be sent to you.
Should you not be willing to collaborate with me in this venture, please inform me urgently to enable me look for another person.
Thanks in anticipation to your positive response.
Yours truly,
MISS MARY ABUBAKAR

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam