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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
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• 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.

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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:
  • "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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "is 100% 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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Williams Alfarouk" <willysu2@gala.net>
Reply-To: williamssuzanalfarouk2222@yahoo.it
Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 19:57:36 +0100
Subject: Dearest,


Dearest,

Greetings in the name of God.We are Williams and Suzan Alfarouk from Sierra
Leone .
We are writing you from Rep of Cote d'Ivoire where we Have been taking
refuge after the brutal war and
Murder of our parents by the rebels during the renewed Fighting in our
country Sierra Leone .
Because of the war our late Father sold his shipping company and took us to
a nearby country Cote d'Ivoire where he deposited US$18, 300,000.00
Million(Eighteen Million Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in
his foreign account with one of the bank here in Cote 'Ivoire.
Please, We have prayed before contacting you with the trust in God that you
will be of help to me and my Sister who is seriously sick now coupled with
the current political situation in Ivory Coast now, We are seeking for your
assistance to transfer this Money to your account for a good investment
Project in your country and also relocate to your country with my younger
sister Suzan to further our study.
We are willing to offer you 15% of the total sum for Your assistance.
Please for your good information this transaction Is 100% risk free and in
no way connected with any illegality. Transaction, Please Help us to get out
of this terrible situation and our Almighty God will bless you.
Please, Kindly call us on this Number +22508443072 or through our email for
more discussion.
Best Regards,
Williams/Suzan Alfarouk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam