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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:
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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:
  • "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)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Williams Freeman" <williams2_freeman@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: williams_freeman18@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 03:18:20 +0000
Subject: We Need Your Help

Dearest One

I Come across your profile and have Decided to get in touch with you
after the prayer,to see if you can help me and my sister solve our problem. I got your contact from the Ecowas Infomation Center in Senegal. My sources of your contact gave me the courage and confidence.



My name is William Freeman With my sister Anna,The Son and Daughter of (Late Chief Makuza Freeman) Who lost his life in my country Rwanda on the 7th of March last year on his way to the company ( Nestle Food Plc). My father willed in cash, the sum of $12.5 Million US Dollars which he deposited in one of the security company in Dakar Senegal, west Africa, with enabling conditions for the release of the fund which are as follows:

(1) That we must be 22 years or above.
(2) That upon request for the release of the fund, there must be evidence of investment intentions especially outside the west Africa,



We contact you therefore to confirm if you can absorb us in partnership in your company or possibly advise us on any investment opportunity in your country. When we reach agreement with you, the company will release our fund to you and we will come over to you to commence business partnership with you and the fund.

We expect your urgent response including your addresses, your telephone
and fax number.
You can contact us through this our email: williams.freeman2@bluetie.com

Thanks for expected cooperation.

Our Regard,
Williams Freeman

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam