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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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: miriam kolo <miriamkolou@msn.com>
Reply-To: <kolomiriam@terra.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:22:06 -0300
Subject: Reform Church of God



Reform Church of God 23/24 Cocody Avenue Abidjan Cote divoire

Dearest One,

I know this mail will come to you as a surprise since we have not had previous correspondence, please bear with me. I will really like to have a good relationship with you, and I have a special reason why I decided to contact you. I am Miss Miriam Kolo 18 years old girl from Cote d Ivoire, the only daughter of Late Mr Robert Kolo.
I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment I am receiving from my Uncles. They planned to take away all my late father's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Parents. Meanwhile I wanted to escape to anywhere i can have a good life but he hides away my international passport and other valuable travelling documents. Luckily he did not discover where I kept my fathers File which contains important documents. So I decided to run to an orphanage camp where I am presenty hiding under Reform Church of GOD Abidjan Cote DIovoire where my late father deposited some amount of money in a bank. I wish to contact you personally for a long term business relationship and investment assistance in anywhere in the world. My late father deposited the sum of US$ 5.5 million (Five million Five Hundred united state dollars) in one of the leading bank with my name as the next of kin. However, I shall forward to you with the necessary documents on confirmation of your acceptance to assist me for the transfer of the money to your account, and investment of the fund. As you will help me in an investment, and I will like to complete my studies, as I was formerly a medical student, when the crisis started. If you are willing to help me in this kindly get back to me as soon as possible. You can call me on +22508995621 I am waiting for your urgent and positive response. Please do keep this only to your self please I plead you not to disclose it till I come over to your country after the transfer.I am willing to offer you 20% of the total sum as compensation of your effort and 5% for any other expence you made after a successful transfer.Call me on +22508995621.
Thank you and God bless Miriam

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam