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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Joy Williams" <o_willi_joy@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: a_willi_joy@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 9 May 2006 10:01:01 +0700
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME TO MOVE THIS FUND.

DEAR SIR,

NATURALLY THIS MESSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE GIVEN THE FACT THAT YOU DONT KNOW ME AND HAD NEVER MET ME BEFORE. HOWEVRE, PERMIT ME TO MAKE A FORMAL AND OFFICIAL INTRODUCTION OF MYSELF AND THE BUSINESS I INTEND TRANSACTING WITH YOU.

MY NAME IS JOY WILLIAM, DAUGTHER OF THE LATE ANDERSON WILLIAM THE FORMER CHARIMAN OF SIERRA LEONE DIAMOND AND GOLD MARKETING BOARD WHO DIED IN THE CIVIL WAR IN SIERRA LEONE. BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER, HE REVEALED TO MY MOTHER AND THE REST OF HIS CHILDREN THAT HE HAD SECRETLY DEPOSITED A HUGE AMOUNT OF PURE ALLUVIA GOLD DUST OF 22KARAT IN THE QUANTITY OF 150KGS IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN GHANA WHERE WE ARE RESIDING PRESENTLY IN A REFUGEE CAMP.

WE HAD A FAMILY MEETING AND DECIDED TO MOVE OUT OUR FAMILY INHERITANCE OUT OF AFRICA BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND CRISIS; ALL THE DOCUMENTS COVERING THE DEPOSIT OF THE GOLD ARE INTACT.

WE WANT YOU TO HELP US TRANSFER THIS GOLD TO YOUR COUNTRY UNDER YOUR CARE AS OUR FOREIGN PARTNER SO THAT WE CAN IN PARTNERSHIP INVEST IN YOUR COUNTRY INTO A PROFITABLE INVESTMENT. OR BETTER STILL YOU CAN HELP US LOOK FOR A RELIABLE BUYER WHO CAN HELP US TRANSFER THIS GOLD FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY WHERE IT IS PRESENTLY TO HIS HOME COUNTRY OR ANY COUNTRY OF HIS CHOICE WHERE WE CAN CARRY OUT A GOOD PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT OF THE MONEY SOLD OUT OF THE GOLD. WE NEED A PEACEFUL AND CONDUSIVE BUSINESS ORIENTED LOCATION.

WE HAVE DECIDED TO PART AWAY 20% AS YOUR COMMISSION DUE TO THE PRESENT CONDITION OF MY FAMILY, WE REQUIRE AN URGENT RESPONSE FROM ANY INTERESTED BUYER OR PARTNERSHIP AGENT.

YOUR QUICK REPLY SHALL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.

THANKS FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.
JOY WILLIAMS.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam