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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:
  • "diplomatic courier" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
  • "courier service" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Margaret Johnson <margaretjohnson3@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <margaretjohnson1@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2007 10:12:36 -0400
Subject: I look forward to hearing from you



Dear,
How are you and the daily activities including yourfamily? Hope everybody is fine. Though we've not metbefore,my name is Ms Margaret Johnson I got yourcontact through the Accra chamber of commerce here in Accra Ghana.

I am a citizen of Sierra Leone,the Daughter of theMinister of Mines and Energy who was killed during theSierra Leonean war by the rebels. My father died andleft behind physical cash of $13.5 Million USD which he safely kept in a Security Finance Company during hisregime in the office. I want to invest this money inany profitable business of your choice in yourcountry. I am hereby soliciting your assistance to bemy foreign partner because I've not been toEurope/U.S. before in my life. So I don't want to makeany costly mistake that will make me lose my money.You will be entitled to 10% of the total sum for your assistance.

All I want is for you to receive the money and sendinvitation letter for me to join you. Your urgentreply will enable me to arrange with the SecurityFinance Company to move this money through theirspecial Diplomatic Courier Services to your country. For you to claim it till I will meet you up in yourcountry for my investment. All the necessary documentsof deposit from the Security Company are with me. Inyour reply, please include your private telephone and fax numbers.

Thanks for your co-operation.My best Regards,Ms Margaret Johnson.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam