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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states dollars" (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 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "lagos" (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 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.
  • +2348032467377 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Musa Ahmad <musa11ahmad@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:14:56 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Please Read


FROM THE DESK OF: MR.AHMAD MUSA
7 KOFO ABAYOMI STREET,VICTORIA ISLAND
PMB 12701 LAGOS NIGERIA
TEL:234-8032467377

ATTENTION:THE PRESIDENT C.E.O

DEAR SIR,

I KNOW THIS LETTER WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE OWING TO THE FACT THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW ME NOR HAVE WE MET BEFORE.WELL,HOWEVER I AM AHMAD MUSA, THE CHIARMAN CONTRACT AWARD COMMITTEE.NIGERIA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION.(NNPC) IT WAS THROUGH MY PERSONAL SEARCH FOR A FORIEGN PARTNER THAT HAS MADE ME TO CONTACT YOU. I WRITE TO SOLICIT FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND CO-OPERATION TO RECIEVE AN OVER-INVOICED AMOUNT OF $45M.(FOURTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) RESULTING FROM A COMPLETED CONTRACT WITH MY MINISTRY .I HAVE PUT ALL MECHINERIES IN MOTION FOR A HITCH FREE AND SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE FUNDS.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE HIGH LEVEL OF SECRECY THAT THIS
BUSINESS REQUIRES, BECAUSE OF MY POSITION AND THE NATURE OF MY JOB,IT IS REQUIRED THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS TREATED IN ABSOLUTE CONFIDENTIALITY IN OTHER TO HAVE A SUCCESFUL CONCLUSSION OF THIS TRANSACTION. FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION, 35% WILL BE FOR YOU, 60% FOR ME AND 5% FOR ANY EXPENSES INCURED DURING THE COURSE OF THIS TRANSACTION LOCALY OR INTERNATIONALY.PLEASE BE REST ASSURED THAT THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE.

PLEASE KINDLY INDICATE YOUR INTREST WITH ANY OF MY ABOVE STATED CONTACT INFORMATIONS SO THAT I CAN GIVE YOU MORE DETAILS ON THE PROCEDURES FOR FINALISING THE TRANSACTION WHICH WILL TAKE US LESS THAN 10 WORKING DAYS TO BE CONCLUDED.
I AWAIT FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.

BEST REGARDS,
AHMAD MUSA.






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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam