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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "lome togo" (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: "Mr Collins Oforma" <mr_collins9@klikni.cz>
Reply-To: mr_collins1975@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 17:45:53 +0000
Subject: I Read About You.....


*From Mr.Collins Oforma,
Manager Credit and foreign Bills
ECO BANK Lome Togo
West Africa*
**
*Dear Friend,

With due honour and respect,I am Mr.Collins Oforma,the Manager
Credit and Foreign Bills of ECO Bank Lome Togo (ECB).

We had a foreign customer Mr Arthur Smith of America who Deposited a huge
sum of money, Twelve million six hundred thousand united states dollars
(US$14.5million) with account number 14-255-1992/ecb/t with our
Bank.Eventually,this customer was among the victims of EGYPT AIR BOEING 767
FLIGHT NO.990 that crashed on the 31th of October 1999 in U.S.A but, since
the demise of Mr Smith, we have not had any body coming for the claims as
the next of kin. A sitaution I have monitored closely with keen interest and
with my position in the Bank.

Now, having monitored this deposit and managed it over the years before his
death, and hence nobody has showed up as the next of kin for the past five
years plus, I have removed the file to my private vault.

I now solicit for your assistance to present you as the next of kin as every
other arrangement has being concluded by me and I am only waiting for a
foreigner to enable me move the fund to his designated nominated foreign
bank account in his country. This does not have any risk attached to it as
all the internal documentations will be handled by me.

I have agreed to share this money with you in the ratio of 10%:30%:60% my
dear 10% of the total sum will be used to pay back all the incurred expenses
in the course of the transaction and 30% is compensation of your assistance
while 60% is for my investment under your supervision in your
country.Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then
discuss or manifesto for transfer modalities . I have all necessary
information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim.

To prove to you how authentic this great opportunity mean to I and you,I
hereby assure you that if we do not have this fund lifted in 10 days time
upon the day of application,then withdraw from this transaction.

Please for our subsiquent communication and contacts kindly send me the
following when replying :

Your private mobile number.........
contact address.........................
your real name..........................
Fax number .............................

You shall also open an empty/blank Bank account which shall have no money on
it to avoid conflict between I and you,this is where this fund shall be
transfered into.
Your urgent assistance is needed.I awaits your urgent reply.
God bless!

Best Regards,

Mr.Collins Oforma,
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam