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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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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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2289387353 (Togo, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: festus zik <festuszik001@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: festuszik5@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2008 10:50:20 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: my good friend Contact me immediately you read this letter


Dear Friend,
I am Barrister FESTUS ZIK an Attorney at law, and the Personal lawyer to ,a foreigner who used to work with Texaco Togo S.A., Republic of Togo.
On the 21st of April 2005,my client,his wife and their two children were involved in a car accident along Dapaong highway while arriving from a Holiday to Lome.All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.
I have made several inquiries to locate any of their extended relatives and this has also proved unsuccessful. I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US$10.5m (Ten million and five hundred thousand United States Dollars) left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security Finance Firm where this huge amount were deposited. The said Security Finance Company has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confiscated within the next four months f their annual audting.
I seek your consent to present as the next of kin to the deceased since you have the same last names,so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you.
Therefore,I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 45% of the total sum as gratification, while 5% will be set aside to take care of expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone bills,while 55% will be for me. All I require from you is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Should you be interested, please contact me through my My Direct Tel:(+228)9387353. So we can commence on all arrangements and I Will give you more information on how we would handle this project.Please treat this business with utmost confidentiality and send me the Following information:

Sincerely,
Call immediately +228-9387353
Barrister Festus Zik Attorney-at-Law

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam