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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: "rita owen" <ritaowen1@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 11:15:29 +0200
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE

DEAR,

I AM SORRY TO DISTURB YOU.I KNOW YOU WILL FEEL EMBARASSED SEEING THIS LETTER.PLEASE DON'T BE, I AM UNDER PRESSURE.LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU.I AM MS. RITA OWEN A SIERRA LEONEAN, PRESENTLY HERE IN DAKAR SENEGAL UNDER UNITED NATION HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR).

UNDER PRESSURE, I SAW YOUR CONTACT ON INTERNET WHEN I WAS SEARCHING FOR SOMEBODY WHO WILL HELP ME OUT OF MY PRESENT PREDICAMENT,THEN I SAY LET ME EXPLAIN MY CONDITION OF TRANSIT HERE IN DAKAR SENEGAL, I SAID YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME.

I NEED SOMEBODY WHOM I CAN TRUST WHO IS SINCERE AND THIS IS WHY AM WRITTING YOU WITH THE HOPE THAT YOU MAY BE WILLING AND CAPABLE OF GIVING THE NEEDED ASSISTANCE FOR THIS PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL BUSUINESS TRANSACTION HEREIN EXPLAINED.

MY LATE FATHER GEN.BENSON OWEN WAS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE SIERRA LEONE DIAMOND MINE IN KENEMA.HE WAS KILLED DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND HIS PROPERTIES DESTROYED,BUT I MANAGED TO ESCAPE WITH SOME OF MY FATHER'S PRECIOUS PROPERTIES. HOWEVER, AM SADDLED WITH THE PROBLEM OF SECURING A TRUSTWORTHY AND CONFIDENTIAL FOREIGN PARTNER WHOM I CAN TRUST.

MY LATE FATHER DEPOSITED THE SUM OF FIFTEEN MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S DOLLARS ($15,400 .000) WITH A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN DAKAR- SENEGAL.I KNOW YOUR COUNTRY IS POLITICAL STABLE FOR ANY PROFITABLE INVESTMENT.FOR THIS REASON I FELL CONFIDENT THEREFORE TO INTRODUCE THIS OFFER TO YOU FOR YOUR PERUSAL AND ASSISTANCE. A NEGOTIABLE PERCENTAGE WILL BE DISCUSSED AS THE TRANSACTION BEGIN IN ERNEST BASED ON YOUR ACCEPTANCE.MY DESIRED INTEREST IS TO ESTABLISH A LONG AND LASTING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. AS WELL AS YOUR EXPERTISE UTILISATION OF THIS FUNDS FOR PROFITABLE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AFTER THE MONEY HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO YOUR COUNYTRY. AS IT IS NOW,MY LIFE IS IN DANGER I WILL TELL YOU THE REASON FOR THIS IN DUE CAUSE.IF NEED BE I WOULD LIKE TO RESIDE IN YOUR COUNYTRY BECAUSE THERE IS WAR GOING ON IN KENEMA SIERRA LEONE.PLEASE I RELY ON YOU TO HELP ME.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AS I EXPECT YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.

BEST REGARDS,

MS. RITA OWEN

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam