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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
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• 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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "diplomatic immunity"
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "your humble assistance" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "diplomatic immunity" ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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: "mommoh mohammed" <mommohm01@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 00:01:54 -0700
Subject: HI


Dear friend,

I got your contact through a desperate and personal search on the web for
someone I could really trust as I have prayed over it and I wish to express
my interest to handle this matter with you as I believe that you are
reliable in handling these type of international transaction.

Though we have not met before but I believe, one has to risk confiding in
someone to succeed sometimes in life, however is not mandatory or in any
manner compel you to Honor against your will.

I am Mohammed Mommoh, the only son to the Sierra-Leone former Minister of
Mines and Energy who was killed during the Sierra-Leone crisis by the
rebels.

I am now living in exile and my father before his untimely death left behind
a box containing physical cash of US$25 Million (twenty five million US
dollars) Which he safely deposited in a security vault during his regime in
the office and now I need a foreigner who may stand as my guardian and
benefactor to this fund by acting as my father foreign partner so that I can
retrieve the money from the security company and transfer it to the persons
foreign bank account for safe keeping and proper investment to secure my
future.

Your assistance as a foreigner is needed because the management of the
security company is ready to welcome any foreigner who has correct
information and documents of the fund which I will give to you and The
security Company is ready to move the fund by diplomatic immunity through
diplomatic channel to any free zone country so that you can sign and receive
the fund in cash and I am ready to give you the document of the fund which
will back you up for the transfer of the money in your name as the
beneficiary only if you promise to use this funds judiciary for the said
purpose.


I am a school college with little knowledge of business which is why I am in
need of a partner whom will assist me to get this fund released for
investments in his or her country while I proceed with my education.

Dearest, I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance on this regard,
and If you know you are capable of handling such a huge amount of money
respond to me and I will compensate you by giving you 25% of the total fund
and additional 2% to pay you back any expenses you will do in the business
and also note that you must keep this transaction secret as my life is at
stake if any one hears of this transaction .

Please,Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible to enable me
give you the full information's that will be needed but please if my
proposal do not suit your interest please confirm to me as to enable me
solicit for another person and as I said above I want you to know that the
security Company is ready to move the fund by diplomatic immunity through
diplomatic channel to any free zone country so that you can sign and receive
the fund in cash so you don't need to worry to come down here if you are
ready to handle the matter.

Thank you so much and Allah bless you while waiting for your immediate
reply.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Mohammed Mommoh.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam