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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:

• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +27724340319 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Catherine Apepe <mrsapepe2@walla.com>
Reply-To: mrapepe@walla.com
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 22:17:45 -0700
Subject: Very Important


17 WILLIAM NICOL
MIDRAND, JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA
TEL: +27-724340319

I do recognize the surprise this urgent but confidential letter will bring to you especially as it came from a stranger, but rest assured that it came with the best of intentions. I am Mrs. Catherine Apepe, from the Diamond-rich district of Sierra Leone and my late husband was the former Special adviser to the ousted Head of State of Sierra Leone, Major Johnny Paul Koroma. I got your email address from a friend who works at the International Chamber of Commerce here in South Africa.
During the war between our forces led by the Ex-Head of State, Major Johnny Paul Koroma and the West African Allied Forces (ECOMOG), my country relied heavily on the foreign earnings generated from diamond trade. This money was personally kept by the then President Major Johnny Paul Koroma since our banking system had collapsed during the war. However, as the war progressed, it became apparent that we were going to loose the war to the superior and better armed West African Allied Forces (ECOMOG). At this point, my Husband Mr. Luis Apepe starched away the sum US$30,000,000.00 in a security and storage company here in South Africa for safekeeping and to avoid being traced. Unfortunately on his return to Sierra Leone he was murdered.
Right now my son and I are in South Africa to claim this money and we need a trustworthy individual or company that can help us proved the important instruments that we will need in transferring and receiving the fund abroad for purpose of investment as South Africa is not conducive for us to invest this fund as we are presently refugees, if you are willing to assist we will offer you 30% of the total sum.
God bless you as we wait for your immediate response, please do include your telephone number, you can also call me or my son or email me,
mrapepe@walla.com Mr. Peter Apepe on +27 724340319
Regards,
Mrs. Catherine. Apepe

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam