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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned 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: Cosmas Johnson <cosjo_6@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: cosjo1989@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 08:50:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dearest One.


Dearest One.=20
=A0
My name is Cosmos Johnson, 19 years from Sierra Leone. My father and I esca=
ped from our country at the heat of the civil war after loosing my mother a=
nd two of my senior brothers in the war. As a result of the politicalinstab=
ility in my country even after=A0 the war, my father established hiscoffee =
export business in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. He was in Buake, a northern city t=
o negotiate for the purchase of a coffee plantation when he was shot and ki=
lled by the rebel troupes fighting to take over the government of the count=
ry .The death of my father has now made me an orphan and thereby exposing m=
e to danger.
=A0

Before the unfortunate death, my late father had in his personal account wi=
th a bank here the sum of $5.5 million. As a result of the present insecuri=
ty of lives and property in this country, I wish request that you assist me=
use=A0 your account in your country to transfer the balance of my father's=
account.

Again to assist me with a letter of invitation that will make me get a visa=
to your country for residence inorder for me to continue my education and =
to invest the fund in a viable business venture. I am willing to give you 2=
5% while 5% has been earmarked for expenses. If this is acceptable to you, =
send me a mail through my regular e-mail account so that we can discuss fur=
ther on this matter.
Thank's
Cosmos Johnson.
=A0
=A0
=A0=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam