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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:
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• 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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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)
• 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.
  • vinna_johnson@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "vinna johnson" <vinna_johnson@yahoo.ca> (may be fake)
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2006 11:53:37 +0000
Subject: Hello my dearest one

Hello my Dear I come to you with due respect and equally with heartful of tears and since we have not known or met ourselves previously. Please, i mean no harm to you only that i am in a desperate situation and need urgent help.
After going through this mail,it will be your decision,whether to help me or to leave me to my faith, but whatever you decide, bear in mind,i am in trouble and need your help I am asking for your assistance after I have gone through a profile that speaks good of you.
I will be so glad if you can allow and lead me to the right channel towards your assistance to my situation.
I will make my proposal well known if I am given the opportunity.
I would like to use this opportunity to introduce myself to you. Anyway, i am vinna johnson. 23years old girl,the only daughter of .Dr patrick JOHNSON My father is now late,e died during the last crisis in my country (Liberia) West Africa.
He was one of the high officers in the leadership of formal president Charles Taylor who is now in exile after many innocent souls were killed ,My father was unlucky to be among those that were killed by the rebel.
The main reason why I am contacting you now is to seek for your assistance in the area of my future investment and also for a help hand over of some huge amount of money in my possession. This money (5.8 millon Dollars) was deposited some years ago by my father, he made me the sole beneficiary.
Please, I am now asking you to stand on my behalf to make this claim,to stand as my partner oversea and in time of the investment as well.As I have mention earlier I will make the procedure to this issue to be well known to you if you give me the opportunity to do so. Pls attach your direct contact information as you reply to me.
via my e-mail address(vinna_johnson@yahoo.ca

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam