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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:

• 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. )
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22507346934 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Madam Helen Odum <mrsirenemadu14@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: hodum0013@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 14:21:05 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Madam Helen Odum


From;Madam Helen Odum
Tel:+225 0734 6934.

My Dear,
It is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I and my Son George intend to establish in your country.Though I have not met with you before but I believe one has to risk confiding in someone to succeed sometimes in life.
I can confide on you for the brighter future of my children since you are a human being like me. There is this huge amount of Fifteen Million five hundred thousand united states dollars. ($15.500.000.00) which my late Husband kept for us with a Security Company here in Abidjan Cote D'ivoire before he was assasinated by unknown persons.Now I and my son George decided to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough for security and political reasons.

We want you to help us claim and retrieve these fund from the Security company and transfer it into your personal account in your country for investment purposes on these areas:

1). Telecommunication
2). the transport industry
3). Five star hotel
4). Real Estate

If you can be of an assistance to us we will be pleased to offer to you 10% Of the total fund. You can call my son George for more explanation on this number: +225 0734 6934

I await your soonest response.

Respectfully yours,

Mrs Helen Odum


---------------------------------
Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha!
Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam