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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • "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 free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • mary_allen@terra.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: mary allen <a0mary23@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mary_allen@terra.com>
Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 10:50:04 +0000
Subject: From: Mary Allen



From: Mary AllenAbidjan Cote D'Ivoire West Africa.

My Dear,
It 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 confidingin someone to succeed sometimes in life.There is this amount of six

Million Five hundred US Dollars ($6.500.000.00)which my late Husband deposited with a security company in Abidjan Capital city of Coted?Ivoire which he wanted to used for his political reason in our Country before he was assassinated.
Now I and my son have decided to invest these money in your country or anywhere safe enough outside Africa for security and political reasons.We want you to help us claim and receive the

consignment which will be sent to you through diplomatic means to your address to avoid any traces of the funds and to enable you plan for the investment in your Country.
I will like 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 am suggestion, I will be very glad to follow your advice.

1). Real estate
2). The transport industry
3). Five star hotel
If you can be of an assistance to us we will be pleased to offer to you 20% Of the total fund while the balance will be invested by you.
Here is my private email address,Mary_allen@terra.com
I await your soonest response.
Respectfully yours,
Mrs. Mary Allen
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam