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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. )
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +31619785294 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • mrsrichie11@aol.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Richie" <mrsrichie12@aol.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:54:04 -0600
Subject:


I am Mrs. Richie,

Am working with a Security company here in Amsterdam the Netherlands
(Holland) as vault's inspector, few weeks ago, while taking inventories of
the items in our vault, to my surprise I came across a metallic box which
had been left there for a long period of time. I was able to open the box
only to discover that the box contained hundred bills of United States
Dollars which amount to 15 million USD as being indicated on the certificate
of ownership that I saw inside the box. Right now as I am writing to you,
the said box is still in the vault unclaimed.

As at this moment, I am the only one who knows about the content of this
box, as the box was originally deposited with the company as a none
inspected consignment containing family valuables,
I humbly seek your assistance for the claim of this box as the owner;
please do let me know if you are willing for this proposal, so that I will
immediately make the change of the ownership to your name before the onward
claims.

Our sharing ratio will be 70/30, I want to assure you that this transaction
is risk free and I would like you to keep everything confidential until we
succeeded in bringing the box out. For more inquiries feel free to ask, via
email; mrsrichie11@aol.co.uk, Tel: +31 619 785 294
Please always bear in mind that this suggestion is free from risk, and I
have been making effort to see that my dream comes true.
Hoping to hearing from you soon, for security reasons, until we establish
the trust and work with one accord because that is where I put all my life
hope to become a public figure, I believe, that was the way God wanted to
change my life after years of suffering with the company.

Remain bless, till I hear from you.

Mrs. Agnes Rich

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam