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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:

• 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:
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • david_masuku14@yahoo.com.au (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "davis masuku" <davismasuku31@gala.net>
Reply-To: david_masuku14@yahoo.com.au
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:16:30 +0200
Subject: From David Masuku (Jnr.)


*From David Masuku (Jnr.)
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
West Africa.*
* *
*Good Day Dear,*
* *
*I deem it a respect and honour as well as priviledge to write you, on my
deep conviction about you,after my deligent search for a honest and
trustworthy someone who will assist me,of which I have chosen you to assist
me for the transfer of an inheritance,which I inherited from my late father
that was poisoned to death by his relatives associates out of enviness.*
* *
*My name is Prince Davis Masuku,I am 18yrs old,a native of Sierra-leone in
West African region in the local districk of Konobo and am the only child of
late Chief Lansan Masuku,my late father is a Diamond Officer in the Republic
of Sierra-leone.But before his death in a private hospital here in Abidjan
where he was brought for us to fly oversaes for his medical care before he
suddenly died, he told me of a fixed deposit of US$8,000,000 he had with a
bank in Abidjan here,which he made me the next of kin because my mother died
when I was two yrs old.*
* *
*I have met the bank manager and declared to him my intention to transfer
this fund out of Africa,as adviced me by my father for my security and of
the money,which I want to, further my education overseas and for investment
purposes,and he is asking me for my guardian,in order to terminate the Fixed
investement and release of the fund,as signed in the Agreement Bond with the
Bank Authority, in case of sudden death.,which I need your assistance to
present you to the bank as my guardian for the transfer of this money into a
new opened genuine account for a good and confortable life in your country
after my education.

Please remember the confidentiality and urgency my mail required for my
security while I expect to read from you to my private Alternative e-mail *
david_masuku14@yahoo.com.au<http://us.mc381.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=david_masuku14@yahoo.com.au>
*Thanks and remain blessed.*
* *
*Prince David Masuku (Jnr.)*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam