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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "prepared to give you 30% " (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 orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "amanda7" <amanda7@rya-online.net>
Reply-To: amandaserifou18@yahoo.co.in
Date: Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:34:43 GMT
Subject: From Amanda Serifou

Dear Friend
I am Amanda Serifou the only son of late Mr souleymane
Serifou the chief protocol officer of the newly appointed
Prime Minister of the Republic of Cote d Ivoire Mr Soro
Guillaume who was attacked June 2007 at Bouake.
You can find out this on the web page Ivory Coast probe call
over Ivorian P.M attack
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6294690.stm
My father was killed with three other members of the Prime
Minister’s team heading to Bouake for a meeting. Before
the death of my father he was Director of Cocoa sales
/Petroleum and itsallied products in Bouake . He was
appointed the Chief Protocol Officer to the Prime Minister
on April 2007.
I want to transfer this Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand US
dollars (US$10,500,000) left in a fixed/ suspense Account in
one of the Prime banks here in Abidjan by my late father.
I am looking for a God fearing person to help me. I want to
transfer this money and use it for investment purpose such
as Real Estate management.
I am honourably seeking your assistance in the following
ways:-
1) To serve as a guardian.
2) To make arrangement for me to come over to your country
to further my education.
3) To help me invest the money in a profitable ventures.
I am only 18years old and I am prepared to give you 30%
percentage of the total amount, as commission for assisting
me and 5% for expenses that will be incurred.
Best Regards
Amanda Serifou

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam