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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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• 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:
  • "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. )
  • "the consignment " (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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: patricia otro <otropatricia913@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <otropatricia2007@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:39:13 +0200
Subject: urgent assistance



Mail From: Mrs.Otro PatriciaAbidjan-Cote D Ivoire.

My Dear,
Is my pleasure to contact you for a business venture which I and my Son,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.

There is this amount of Seventeen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only (USD$17.5M) which my late Husband deposited with a security company in Abidjan Capital city of Cote d Ivoire which he wanted to use for his political ambition in our Country before he was assassinated.

Now I and my son have decided to invest this money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside here for security and political reasons.We want you to help us reclaim and receive the consignment in your name from the security company's affiliate outside Cote d'Ivoire through diplomatic means or you come down here in Cote d'Ivoire for us to visit the security company together for the claim in your name to avoid any traces of the funds and to enable you plan for the investment in your Country.

I have plans to invest part of the money into these three investment in your Country but,if there is any other business that is better than what I have suggested, I will be very glad to follow your advice.1). Real estate2). The transport industry3). Five star hotel.
We hope to offer you 30% Of the total fund for your assistance to us while the balance will be invested on our behalf by you .I await your soonest response.Respectfully yours,Mrs.Otro Patricia
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam