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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: louis kelly <kellyloui4@hotmail.fr>
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2007 15:06:37 +0000
Subject: Urgent Attention Needed



Urgent Attention NeededFROM THE DESK OF MR KELLY LOUIS AUDITING DEPARTMENT ECOWAS BANK FOR INVESTMENT AND DEVELOMENT
LOME TOGO. TEL: 00228-970-96-98 Dear Friend,
I have a proposal for you - this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will.

I am 50, and work with a bank (one of the African leading banks in the West Coast). Here in this bank existed a dormant account for the past 8 years which belong to a American national who is now late Mr.Raymond and Beck Mrs. Dorene Beck who died on EgyptAir Flight 990
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm

When I discovered that there had been no deposits nor withdrawals from this account for this long period, I decided to carry out a system investigation and discovered that non of the family member nor relations of the late person is aware of this account. This is the story in a nutshell.
Now I want an account overseas where the bank will transfer this funds.Thereafter, I had planned to destroy all related documents for this account. It is a careful network and for the past eleven months I have worked out everything to ensure a hitch-free operation. The amount is not so much at the moment and plus all the accumulated interest the balance in this account stands at-(US$ 9.5 million US dollars). Now our questions are:- 1. Can you handle this project? 2. Can I give you this trust? 3. Can you finance this project if so,What will be your commission? . Consider this and get back at to me as soon as possible.Finally, it is my humble prayer that the information as contained herein be accorded the necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy it deserves. I Expect your urgent response if you can handle this project. Call me at this direct line 00228-970-96-86 after sending a mail for confirmation.

Respectfully yours,
Mr Kelly Louis.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam