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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:
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand u.s 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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Clifford Williams" <Jos@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: will_clif220@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2007 14:45:02 +0100
Subject: From Clifford Williams

Dear Sir,
I inherited a huge amount of money from my late father,I wrote you in order to solicite for your help and assistance with hope you will understand my situation.My name is Clifford Williams .I am 24 years old from Sierra Leone in west Africa,now seeking refuge in Dakar Senegal under the Unite Nation High Commission For Refugees (UNHCR).My (late) father Dr. Mbeki William ,was the managing director J & D Oil company in Sierra Leone. But he was killed along side with my senior brother during the longing civil war by rebels and all our properties was totally destroyed.
However,after their death and burial I managed to escape with a very important document (DEPOSIT CERTIFICATE)of(US$15.5m) Fifteen million Five hundred thousand U.S Dollars,this document indicated me as the Next of Kin .Meanwhile,I am saddled with the problem of securing a trust worthy foriegn personality or an organisation to help me transfer the money over to his/her country with the intention of investing it in a business under his/her directives and supervisstions,because I have no knowledge of investment.Please if you are so kind as to assist me I shall send to you all vital informations for your confirmation regarding the financial house where the fund was lodged. I am giving you this offers as mentioned with every confidence on your acceptance to assist me as your son and manage the money in my behalf untill such a time I am able to stand on my feet.I will be happy to hear from y ou.
God Bless you as you consider my plea.
Clifford Williams,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam