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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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• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "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 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)
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: stella adams <stellams.22@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <a00stellams@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 07:10:02 -0500
Subject: FROM STELLA ADAMS



FROM STELLA ADAMSABIDJAN- COTE D'IVOIREDEAR,WITH DUE RESPECT AND HUMILITY I WRITE YOU THIS LETTER MY NAME IS STELLA ADAMS ,24 YEARS OLD,MY FATHER OWNS A LIMITED OF COCOA AND GOLD BUSINESS IN REPUBLIQUE OF LIBERIA. AFTER HIS TRIP TO ABIDJAN COTE DIVIORE TO NEGOTIATE ON A COCOA AND GOLD BUSINESS HE WANTED TO INVEST IN ABROAD.ONE WEEK HE CAME BACK FROM HIS TRIP TO ABIDJAN HE HAD A MOTOR ACCIDENT WITH MY SISTER WHICH MY SISTER DIED INSTANTLY BUT MY FATHER DIED AFTER FIVE DAYS IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL IN MY COUNTRY.
IT WAS LIKE MY FATHER KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING TO DIE MAY HIS GENTLE SOUL REST IN PREFECT PEACE. BEFORE HE DIE HE DISCLOSED TO ME AND MY MOTHER THAT HE DEPOSITED THE SUM OF (USD $5.2 Million DOLLARS) HE DEPOSIT INTO A SECURITY COMPANY IN ABIDJAN COTE DIVIORE THE MONEY HE WAS MADE IN HIS COCOA AND GOLD BUSINESS HE WANTED TO ESTABLISH IN ABROAD BEFORE HE DIE.NOW I AM SOLICITING FOR YOUR HELP TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT IN YOUR COUNTRY FOR INVESTMENT.I PROMISE TO GIVE YOU 10% PERCENT OF THE TOTALL AMOUNTBEST REGARDS. STELLA
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam