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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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: "Michael B Tony" <mikeb_gh7@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:08:24 -0800
Subject: BUSINESS ASSISTANCE NEEDED

Hello

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE


Though you don’t know me, I am MICHAEL TONY, a Sierra-leonnean and who has just gotten out of the hands of
Rebel Soldiers,fighting against the regime of
President Tijan Ahmed Kaba and his troop.My father
who was then the chairman of the diamond co-operation
in Sierra Leonne,was killed also by the rebels .On
the intervention of Rev.Jesse Jackson, we were
released and presently staying in a refugee camp in
Ghana.

Before my father’s death ,he notified me of a huge
amount he hurriedly deposited with a security company
here in Ghana (during the war ).He gave me the
documents and authority to claim the consignments from
the company.The amount involved in the consignments
is $20.5 m(twenty million,five hundred thousand US
dollars).He logded with the company as a jewelleries.

I got your contact ,from a friend here in Ghana,who
normally travel on Business to your country.I told
him of my need for a foreign partner and my
intentions to invest in Europe,Asia or USA.He told me
of how reliable and trustworthy you are.This is how
far he knows of my intentions.

The security company is prepared to help me carry my
consignments (money) out of Africa.This security
company officials, do travel on official assignments
and with diplomatic immunity,to pay offshore
contractors.I want you to assist me as my partner to
help me receive the consignments over there and keep
it in a safe place.You will then send me a letter of
invitation,in other for me to get my visa to join you
up.I am also interested in Buying a house as I will be
coming to settle down there with my family and you
should advise me on a Profitable business in your
country.

For your assistant,I am prepared to compensate you
with 10% of the money,5% will be set aside for extra
expenditure,during the cause of this transaction.While
,the rest will be for my investments.

Please let me know my intentions immediately through
my email information above.

NOTE: Please treat this as confidential ,as I have
not told anybody except you even Your friend that gave
me
your contact .

Waiting to hear from you.

Yours truly,

MICHAEL TONY.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam