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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:

• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found 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.
  • mrsabenaj@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • mrsabenaj@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Abena J.Abavana" <mrsabenaj@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:23:05 +0200
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF MRS. ABENA .J. ABAVANA


>From the Desk of Mrs. Abena J.Abavana

Greetings,

I got your contact via Internet as God's wishes, my name is Mrs. Abena
J.Abavana and I am living with AIDS. Ever since my husband, Hon. Lawrence
R. Abavana, former Ghanaian Agriculture minister died of AIDS and I was
tested positive of the AIDS virus, the mass media wouldn't just let me and
my family be at peace any more.

My children have stopped going to school because they could no longer stand
the humiliations from fellow students. The embarrassments are getting on my
nerves but what can I do? I would have loved to travel out of the country to
a place where I will have peace and spend the rest of my life with my
children but I couldn't make it for I am weak and severely sick.

Moreover, no Embassy would grant me Visa to her country with my hairs
withering and boils all over my body. I will like you to keep this top
secret and Confidential. Please you are at liberty to view my family on the
below webpage for more information;(
www.ghanacastle.gov.gh/President/castle_newsp_details.cfm?EmpID=476)

>From all indications, I know that my days are numbered. In the light of the
above, I have contacted you to assist me to transfer out of Ghana the sum of
$14.7 Million USD and 200kg of AU GOLD DUST which my husband deposited as
[FAMILY TREASURES] with a sec-point security company for the up-keep of my
children as they will be coming over to your country in due course to live
and school.

I am prepared to give you 35% of the total funds as I look forward to hearing
from you via my private email address(
mrsabenaj@yahoo.com<mrsabenaj@gmail.com>)
while thanking you for your anticipated cooperation in advance.

My lawyer will get in touch with you upon your positive response to assist
my family and also benefit yourself too.

Kind Regards,

Mrs Abena J. Abavana

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam