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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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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "transfer into your account" (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)
  • "is highly confidential" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Miss Jennifer Idioma" <jennifer_idioma@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: jenniferidioma@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:08:56 +0200
Subject: Greetings

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

You may be surprised to receive this message from me since you don't know me in person, but for the purpose of introduction,
I am Miss Jennifer Idioma the daughter of late Mr/Mrs.Williams Idioma from Zimbabwe. But residing in Bouake Southern part of Cote d'Ivoire.
My father was a Cocoa merchant in Bouake before his untimely death last year, after his business trip to Dakar Senegal to negociate on a cocoa business. He was poisoned by his business associates.
My mother died during the out break of civil war here.Before the death of my father on October 2005, he informed me that he deposited the sum of Three Million, Eight Hundred Dollars (US$3.8 Million) in a Finance Firm in Dakar Senegal.
He also explained to me that it was because of this wealth that made his business associates to poisoned him. He asked me to seek for a foreign partner outside our country where I will transfer this money and invest it wisely and also see that I complete my education.
I am soliciting for your kind assistance so that the Finance Firm will release the fund and have it transfer into your account for investment. And I will join you in your country as the political tension here is increasing daily.
I am willing to give you 10% of the total sum and any expenses encure during this transaction will be giving back to u before any investment commence.
Remember that this transaction is highly confidential.Expect your reply soon.
Best regards.
Miss Jennifer Idioma

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam