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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "million 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: "memouna sankoh" <memounasankoh@peru.com>
Reply-To: memouna_sankoh@yahoo.fr
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2008 13:03:57 +0000
Subject: Reply


Dear,

I am contacting you to let you know my desire to establish a charity
foundation in your country with this sum US$: 36.000.000 (Thirty Six Million
dollars) which I inherited from my late husband a well know businessman
extra ordinary (Chief. Arthur K. Sankoh). He died together with our two
children in a beach cruise.

It is my desire to see that this money is invested to any organization of
your choice in your country and distributed each year among the charity
organizations, motherless baby's home, mosques, churches, Schools,
supporting destitute aged men and women or whatever you may have in mind
that will be to the benefit of the less fortunate.

I took this decision because I was raised from a motherless baby's home and
presently, I'm hospitalized here in (Abidjan) where I am undergoing
treatment for my up coming surgery operation on heart problem.

As soon as I receive your response confirming your acceptance to claim the
deposit on my behalf, I will give you all the relevant information that will
authorise the release of the money to you as my duly assigned
representative.In your reply, please give me your phone number,your address,
and attach a copy of your ID (international passport, driver's licence, or
national ID)and send to me.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and I hope to hear from you
urgently.

Please Reply Urgently!

Yours Sister,
Mrs Memouna Sankoh

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam