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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:
  • "huge sum 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 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: Didia Zudah <didia63@zudaz.com>
Reply-To: didia@zudah.net
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 04:43:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: REPLY AND CALL ME ONLY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS TRANSACTION


FROM: MR DIDIA ZUDAH.
AUDITING / ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR
INTERNATIONAL BANK OF AFRICA (BOA)
BURKINA-FASO, WEST AFRICA .
+226 76 18 66 18

MY DEAR, I AM CONTACTING YOU IN REGARDS TO A BUSINESS TRANSFER OF A HUGE SUM OF MONEY FROM A DECEASED ACCOUNT. THOUGH I KNOW THAT A TRANSACTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL MAKE ANYONE APPREHENSIVE AND WORRIED, BUT I AM ASSURING YOU THAT ALL WILL BE WELL AT THE END OF THE DAY.

I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU DUE TO THE URGENCY OF THIS TRANSACTION.

PROPOSITION: I DISCOVERED AN ABANDANT SUM OF $11.5M (ELEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLAS) IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY.

SINCE HIS DEATH, NONE OF HIS NEXT-OF-KIN OR RELATIONS HAS COME FORWARD TO LAY CLAIMS TO THIS MONEY AS THE HEIR. I CANNOT RELEASE THE FUND FROM HIS ACCOUNT UNLESS SOMEONE APPLIES FOR CLAIM AS THE NEXT-OF-KIN TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES.

UPON THIS DISCOVERY, I NOW SEEK YOUR PERMISSION TO HAVE YOU STAND AS A NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED AS ALL DOCUMENTATIONS WILL BE CAREFULLY WORKED OUT BY ME FOR THE FUNDS $11.5M ( ELEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATE DOLLAS ) TO BE RELEASED IN YOUR FAVOUR AS THE BENEFICIARY'S NEXT OF KIN. IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO NOTE THAT I HAVE SECURED FROM THE PROBATE AN ORDER OF MADAMUS TO LOCATE ANY OF DECEASED BENEFICIARIES.

PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE IN ACCEPTANCE OF MY MUTUAL BUSINESS ENDEAVOUR BY FURNISHING ME WITH THE FOLLOWING;

1. YOUR FULL NAMES AND ADDRESS.

2. DIRECT TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBERS.

THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL ENABLE ME FILE A LETTER OF CLAIM TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS FOR NECESSARY APPROVALS IN YOUR FAVOUR BEFORE THE TRANSFER CAN BE MADE. I SHALL BE COMPENSATING YOU WITH $4.6 MILLION DOLLARS ON FINAL CONCLUSION OF THIS PROJECT,

WHILE THE REST $6.9MILLION SHALL BE FOR ME. YOUR OWN SHARE STAYS WITH YOU WHILE THE REST SHALL BE FOR ME FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES IN YOUR COUNTRY.

IF THIS PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE BY YOU, DO NOT TAKE UNDUE ADVANTAGE OF THE TRUST I HAVE BESTOWED IN YOU,

I AWAIT YOUR URGENT EMAIL.

REGARDS,

YOUR,S FAITHFULLY,

MR DIDIA ZUDAH
+226 76 18 66 18

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam