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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +27767962565 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • gabrielmarufu@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "gabriel marufu" <gabrielmarufu9@telegraf.by>
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 20:09:53 +0200
Subject: Mr. Gabriel Bobo Marufu


Sir/Madam,

Thank you for giving me your time. Please be patient and Read my email
My name is Mr. Gabriel Bobo Marufu, the younger brother of Grace Mugabe (The
wife of Mr. President Robert G. Mugabe); I am contacting you based on the
instructions given to me by my sister. This proposal must be very
confidential for us to work together. My sister has instructed me to look
for a foreign partner who will help us move investment fund of USD$40.600,
000 (Forty Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars) to an International Bank
Account that will be provided by you, for the benefit and future of her
three kids Bona, Robert jnr and Chatunga, in case something goes wrong with
this crisis in Zimbabwe. I trust that the safe-keeping of these funds will
not be betrayed in any way.

This fund is deposited in one of the top security companies in South Africa
, and we require a foreign partner for further claims. I will furnish you
with the proof of deposit once you have indicated interest to assist us. My
sister is willing to reward you with 40% of the total fund for your
assistance. I must bring it to your attention that this is a very
"CONFIDENTIAL MATTER". If you are willing to help please keep contact with
me via my direct telephone line or private email address below.

+27 767 962 565, Email GabrielMarufu@sify.com

Thank you, hope to hear from you
Best regards
Mr. Gabriel Bobo Marufu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam