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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "i am using this medium to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: charles Garang <charlesgarang@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 11:43:28 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From Charles Garang


DEAR SIR/MADAM,

I AM USING THIS MEDIUM TO INTRODUCE MY SELF TO YOU, I AM CHARLES GARANG 19YEARS OLD THE SON OF THE LATE DR. JOHN GARANG, WHO WAS KILLED ON JULY 30 2005 IN A HELICOPTER CRASH ON THE BORDERS OF UGANDA,KENYAN AND SUDAN.

I CAME TO GHANA TO CLAIM MY INHERITANCE THAT MY LATE FATHER DEPOSITED WITH AN INSURANCE AND SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN GHANA.

RIGHT NOW I HAVE FINISHED THE CLAIM AND MY INHERITANCE (TRUNK BOX) CONTAINING TEN MILLION UNITED STATE DOLLARS (US$10,000000.00) IS PRESENTLY IN GHANA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT READY TO LEAVE, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO RECEIVE ME AS MY FOREIGN BENEFICIARY AND ALSO TO HELP ME INVEST THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY.

PLEASE I NEED YOU TO RECEIVE ME AND ALSO HELP ME INVEST MY MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY.

PLEASE GET BACK TO ME WITH YOUR IDENTIFICATION SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS BETTER.

YOUR EFFORT WILL BE WELL REWARDED WITH 30% OF THE TOTAL MONEY I AM COMING WITH.

PLEASE I AM EXPECTING TO HEARING FROM YOU.

I AM FAST AWAIT YOU RESPONSE

THANK YOU,

CHARLES GARANG.


---------------------------------
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A Smarter Inbox.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam