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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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• 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:

• 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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • mariam.kone2@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mariam" <mariam.kone5@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mariam.kone3@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:43:34 +0000
Subject: IN GOOD FAITH

From Mariam Kone,
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
West Africa.

Please reply me through this my private address:
(mariam.kone2@yahoo.com <mailto:mariam.kone2@yahoo.com>)


Dearest One

It's my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I intend to establish in your country, Though I have not met with you before but I believe one has to risk, confiding in someone to succeed sometimes in life.

There is this huge amount of money Ten million,five hundred thousand United State Dollars).USD($10.50 0,000,00) which I inherit from my late father, in a Security company here in Cote'd ivoire before he was assasinated by unknown persons.
Now I decieded to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside Africa for security purposes.I want you to help me to transfer this fund into your country for investment purposes.

If you can be of an assistance to me I will be pleased to offer you 20% Of the total fund.

Thank you and God bless you.
Mariam Kone

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam