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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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 united state 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "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: harriskone50@seznam.cz
Reply-To: harriskone100@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:25:29 +0100 (CET)
Subject: =?us-ascii?Q?From=20Harris=20=26=20Sister=20Janet=20Kone?=

>From Harris & Sister Janet Kone
Abidjan, Cote D' Ivoire, West Africa.
Happy New Year
It is my pleasure to identify with you. I am Harris and My younger sister Janet Kone i am 19yr's old while my younger sister is 16yr's old. we are from sierra leone but residing in Ivory Coast west Africa.
We are humbly seeking for your guidance and assistance inmigrating us to your country and also help us in transferring the sum of USD$6,000,000 (Six Million United State Dollars) inherited from my father late Alfred Kone.

We are motivated to contact you after our prayers, as we get to know you better, we hope to gradually build trust, relationship and confidence in you as our step parents. So if you can be in position to assist us in any way, we will be glad and willing to offer you 15% of the total sum for your assistance in retrieving the money and effort input after the successful transfer of this money and investment. Indicate your interest towards assisting us by sending your phone # and address so that we can communicate with you at any time. we need your expected guidance in investing the money in any profitable business investment in your country. If you are willing to assist us, kindly get back to us immediately with your adequate communication.

Thanks and God bless you.
Your's Sincerely
Harris & Janet Kone.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam