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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "million american 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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: Alex <santa_alex05@yahoo.com.cn>
Reply-To: santa_al1@yahoo.com.cn
Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:36:21 +0800 (CST)
Subject: FROM SANTA ALEXANDRA






I AM MR SANTA ALEXANDRA FROM IVORY COAST THE SON OF MR AND MRS ALEXANDRA AND I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE I NEED YOUR HELP IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A SUM OF MONEY THAT MY DEAD FATHER LEFT FOR ME BEFORE HE DIED.THIS MONEY IS USD 21 MILLION AMERICAN DOLLARS( $21M USD)AND THE MONEY IS IN A SECURITY COMPANY HERE IN ABIDJAN.



BECAUSE OF HIS POSITION THIS MONEY COULD NOT BE DEPOSITED IN A BANK,HE DECIDE TO KEEP THE MONEY INSIDE A TRUNK BOX AND DEPOSIT IT AS A FAMILY VALUABLE ITEM TO THE SECURITY COMPANY BUT THE SECURITY COMPANY DID NOT KNOW THE CONTENT.



MY DAD WORKED WITH A LEADING OIL COMPANY AND ALSO A POLITICIAN HERE IN IVORY-COAST AND HE DIED IN AUTO ACCIDENT AND NOW I WANT YOU TO STAND AS MY GUIDIAN AND APPOINTED BENEFICIARY AND RECEIVE THE CONSIGNMENT INTO YOUR COUNTRY SINCE I AM ONLY 20 YEARS AND WITHOUT MOTHER OR FATHER.



I WILL OFFER YOU %30 OF THE TOTALL AMOUNT FOR HELPING ME TO RECIEVE THE CONSIGNMENT.



PLEASE I WILL LIKE YOU TO REPLY TO THIS EMAIL SO THAT I WILL TELL YOU ALL THE INFORMATION SO THAT MY CONSIGNMENT WILL BE DELIVER INTO YOUR COUNTRY SO THAT YOU WILL GET ME PAPERS TO TRAVEL TO YOUR COUNTRY TO CONTINUE MY EDUCATION THERE WHILE YOU HELP ME INVEST MY MONEY UNTIL I FINISH MY EDUCATION.I AM WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY AND I WILL CALL YOU AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU.



THANKS FROM SANTA



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam