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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "huge amount 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)
  • "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)
  • "million us 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: paul bongo <pl_bongo@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 06:54:08 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AN-URGENT-ASSITANCE


DEAR SIR/MADAM
MY NAME IS PAUL BONGO, A KENYAN, BY NATIONALITY PRESENTLY RESIDING IN ACCRA,GHANA. MY FATHER HAD A BIG HOTEL IN MY COUNTRY BEFORE HIS SUDDEN DEATH, DURING THE CRISE AND GOVERNMENT IN MY COUNTRY. MY FATHER'S ATTORNEY CALLED ME TO TELL ME ABOUT SOME MONEY MY FATHER DEPOSITED, IN A FINANCE SECURING COMPANY HERE IN GHANA FOR FUTURE INVESTMENT.
THE AMOUNT INVOLVED IS $10.5 MILLION (TENY/FIVE MILLION US DOLLARS) I'M SOLICITING FOR YOUR HAND IN PARTNERSHIP AS TO COME UP, SO THAT WE CAN BOTH THINK OF A PROFITABLE INVESTMENT TO START WITH THIS FUNDS IN YOUR COUNTRY, I HAVE NOT HANDLE SUCH A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, I ALSO DON'T INTEND TO INVEST THIS MONEY HERE IN AFRICA AND I AM NOT INTO BUSINESS, THEREFORE I NEED A HELPING HAND AS TO INVEST THIS MONEY JUDICIOUSELY. THE DOCUME NTS RELATING TO THIS DEPOSITING OF THE CONSIGNMENT ARE INTACT WITH ME, I SHALL SEND THEM TO YOU FOR PROOF AS SOON AS YOU INDICATE YOUR INTEREST IN GOING INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH ME AND WE SHALL NEGOTIATE ON THE SHARE (PERCENTAGE) THEREAFTER. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED GOD BLESS YOU.
YOURS SINCERE
PAUL BONGO

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam