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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. )
  • "million us 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)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • vctr_margai22@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: theresa margai <mrs_margai33@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 13:23:29 -0400
Subject: A CRY FOR HELP



Greetings:
My name is Mrs. Theresa Margai, from Diamond rich country district ofBombali in Northern Province of Sierra Leone. I am the widow of the Late Mr. Gulama Margai, the managing director of Sierra Leone diamond mining co-operation. I am currently living in a refugee center in London, UK. My family and I have been unfortunate to find ourselves caught up in a very difficult situation in London. I know you will be surprise to receive this message, but it is of utmost importance to me and my family.
Anyway, I am about to entrust my destiny and the destiny of my whole dependants on your shoulder if you can help us, it will also be of immense benefit to you too. This transaction demands utmost trust, honesty, integrity and most important, secrecy. It is only through the above that my family and I will be assured of our security. This regrettable situation led to the killing of my husband and only daughter and the displacement of my family.
During the brutal civil war in my country Sierra Leone, my late husband of blessed memory was brutally murdered by the rebels led by Mr. Foday Sankoh, he was murdered with my only daughter (Laura). But my two sons (Victor & Nelson) and I managed to escape to UK, through the help of the International Rescue Committee (IRC).But before my late husband's death, he drew my attention to a box containing about twelve million US dollars ($12 Million) which he smuggled out at the start of the war to a security company in Spain, Europe. (The security company does not know the real contents of the box. He registered it in the name of my son Victor Margai as family art and monuments) He also gave me the certificate of deposit and receipt issued to him by the security company, which I still have in my possession.
The problem I have is that as a refugee, the immigration law does not allow us to open or hold operate bank account in London and I do not want to seek the assistance of just anybody for fear of being duped or defraud of our only livelihood, I have sold almost all my jewelries to keep body and soul together, hence the British Government is not really taking care of us.
What is required of you is to give us your full name, telephone and fax numbers and contact address so that I can secure a Power of Attorney in your favour that would enable you contact the security company as the beneficiary of the box. You can then transfer the funds to your bank account after the box must have been released to you. In order to make it worth your while, we will give you part of the money. We have also map out 5% of the principal sum for any expenses that you may incurred during the transaction process which includes your traveling expenses, we intend to invest the remaining part of the money on your advice in any lucrative business ventures in your country, you may even act as our financial adviser if you are so disposed.
If you want to help, you should contact my son Victor Margai who recently got a job in one of the local firms here in London on his email address :(vctr_margai22@yahoo.co.uk) I am looking forward to your immediate response, as I believe that destiny has brought us together.
Yours Faithfully, Mrs. Theresa Margai
Please visit the following web pages for further information on the Sierra Leone war. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sl.html http://www.hrw.org/reports98/sierra/ http://www.refugees.org/news/crisis/sierraleone/sierraleone_photos.htm http://www.theirc.org/Sierra%20Leone/ http://www.infoplease.com/spot/sankoh1.html
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam