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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • ",000,000" (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.
  
• 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.
  • info_shehugarba@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Shehu Garba <shehugarba24024@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <info_shehugarba@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:52:59 -0400
Subject: How are you



Dear Sir,
I am Mr. Garba Shehu,the senior special assistant to the former vice president of Nigeria,Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and also the co-ordinator/Media Campaign Organisation in his 2007 election.my boss has mandated me to look for a partner in your country that will assist him in safeguarding the sum of Fifteen Million U.S Dollars (US$15,000,000.00),being part of the money earmarked for his April 2007 presidential campaign/election which he lost out for the excise. The funds was deposited with a security company in oversea by me on his behalf.Meanwhile he intends to invest the money into property and Stocks in your country.I have made a solid arrangement on how the fund will be transfered to your account.
You will be expected to keep 10% of the total amount as your own share for assisting us to safeguard the money.Please note that this transaction is legitimate,risk free and confidential and must not be disclosed to any third party.I will be grateful if you could disclose your private telephone numbers in your reply for easy communication and I shall details you more towards the futher steps. Looking forward for urgent response. Email Address: info_shehugarba@yahoo.co.uk
Kind Regards, Mr Garba Shehu

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam