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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:
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "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.
  • rufus.gh@zipmail.com.br

Fraud email example:

From: "Ahmed Rufus .S." <rufus_ecowasghana@yahoo.ca> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 07:31:38 +0000
Subject: Regards

I am a senior member of the Contract Awarding Committee of the ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS). We are in search of an agent who will assist me in the transfer of USD 25.5, 000,000.00 (twenty five million five hundred thousand United States Dollars only.) and subsequent investment of same in lucrative ventures in your country.

This fund was a residue of the over invoiced contract bills awarded by us intentionally for the supply of hard/soft wares, pharmaceuticals/ medical items, light and heavy duty vehicles, apparels and other administrative/logistics for the ECOMOG in Sierra-Leone and Liberia during the Peace Keeping Projects

You will be required to.
1) Assist in the transfer of the said sum
2) Advise on lucrative area(s) of investment, and
3) Assist in the management of same investments. Could you be kind enough to render your services to us in this regard, you shall be rewarded with 25% of the total sum stated above while 10% will be used to defray any incidental charges and cost during the course of the transaction
Kindly indicate your interested by sending an email to me so that I can give you the modalities.

Yours Sincerely,
Ahmed Rufus .S.
Alternative Email: rufus.gh@zipmail.com.br

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam