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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "trunk box" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Kingsley Mobutu <kin_mobutu@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: kmbtcnm@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2006 02:41:50 -0700
Subject: I NEED YOUR QUICK RESPONSE


Dear Sir,
I am Kingsley Mobutu.I am writing to you this mail as to solicit your help
in the transfer of my trunk box containing $45,000,000.00 US which was deposited
in a private security company by my late father ( Late President Mobutu Sese Seko
of Zaire) with a private security company here in Accra-Ghana.
What I need is a reliable God fearing person like you that will receive the
consignment on my behalf until my arrival to join you in your country.
Before the death of my late father he instructed me and my mother to invest
this funds abroad,because after the rebels forced my late father on exile
where he met his death we came to Ghana and took refuge under the UNHCR and
with our refugee status we are not authorized to have that huge amount of
money hence we need your assistance.Do state what percentage you wish to
receive for your assistance in this matter.
Note that all legal documents clearing the funds as clean and legitimate have
been obtained but I am soliciting your help because due to our present refugee
status we cannot independently put claim.
Truly Yours,
Kingsley Mobutu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam