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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
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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. 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)
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
• 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.
  • id.sandrambame1@hotmail.fr

Fraud email example:

From: msandra mbame <msandra16@live.fr>
Reply-To: <msandrambame@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 22:32:58 +0100
Subject: Hello,



Hello,

I am mrs Sandra Mbame from Botswana. I am married to Dr.Joseph Mbame who worked with Botswana embassy in Leshoto for nine years before he died.
We were married for eighteen years with a child.My Husband died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child outside my matrimonial home.When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $14.865,000,00(Fourteen million Eight hundred and sixty five thousand U.S.Dollars) in a security company in Abidjan-Cote D'Ivoire.The money was deposited in a trunk box as family valuables.

Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not last for the next three months due to cancer Problem. Though what disturbs me most is the stoke,Having known my condition I decided to look for a God fearing individual that will utilize this money to the glory of God to take care of my only child for better future.I took this decision because my only child is still young and can not manage this fund very well and my husband relatives are not happy with my husband's wealth when he was alife and through my prayers and the directions of God,I have found out that their hands is in my husband's death and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by evil men. I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner,hence the reason for taking this bold decision.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Security company in Abidjan where my husband deposited the consignment . Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for another person for this same purpose.

Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein and you will take care of my only child.

Hoping to hear from you soon. Yours Sincerely,

Mrs Sandra MbameN/B CONTACT ME VIA THIS ID.sandrambame1@hotmail.fr
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam