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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:
  • "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. )
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "liberia" (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: Mrsalice Williams <wmrsalice@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrsalice.williams1@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 13:05:38 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From; Mrs Alice williams;


From; Mrs Alice williams;

Hello Dear,

My name is Alice williams,The wife of Mr.joseph williams a senator during president charls Taylor regime in Liberia.who is receently killed in Liberia.

During my husband‘s regime as a senator,I realized some reasonable amount of money from various deals that I successfully executed.

Well before my late husband was killed,I secretly put in a box the sum of $17,000,000 million USD (Seventeen million United states dollars) and deposit it in a security company abroad.

I am contacting you because I want you to help me in securing the money for the future of my children since my late husband family's members now monitor all my movement.

I hope to trust you as who will not sit on this money when you claim it.i will give you 15% of the total money for your assistance.if you are willing to help me.

Best regards
Mrs Alice Williams.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam