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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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 united states 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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Mza Ako <ako_mza@live.com>
Reply-To: mzaako@live.com
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 01:17:32 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Very Urgent!!!


Dear friend,

My name is Mr. Ako Mza, Attorney to Late Engr. Joseph Garner. I am writing in respect of a foreigner Late Engr. Joseph Garner, who perished in Auto Crash with the whole passengers aboard. Since the dismissal of Engr. Joseph Garner, I personally have watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of (US$6.5m), [Six Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars] which has been with BANK for a very long time.

On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the next of kin as no one has come up to be the next of kin. And the banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than four years, because money will be recalled to the bank's treasury as unclaimed after this period. In view of this I got your contact through a trade journal if you can stand as next of kin to the deceased. I will give you 40% of the total. Upon the receipt of your response, I will send you by e-mail the next step to take.

I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is hitch free and that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for fund transfer can be finalized within seven banking days. When you receive this letter. Kindly send me an e-mail signifying your decision.

Respectfully submitted,
Mr. Ako Mza
Probate and Bequest Division

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam