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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "offshore account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • +22547734656 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a 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.
  • dr.pdeba@gmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.Deba" <pcdeba4@1ru.net>
Reply-To: dr.pdeba@live.fr
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:17:41 +0000
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF: DR. PRINCEWILL DEBA


FROM THE DESK OF: DR. PRINCEWILL DEBA
DIRECTOR, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
ABDIJAN - COTE D'IVOIRE
EMAIL : dr.pdeba@gmail.com<http://us.mc621.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=dr.pdeba@gmail.com>
DIRECT TEL: +225-477-34-656



STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

DEAR FRIEND,

TRANSFER OF US$21.5MILLION INTO A PERSONAL/COMPANY'S OFFSHORE ACCOUNT

Based on the information gathered from the Ministry of Trade and
Industries, we intend to solicit for your assistance on this
transaction with you on the assumption that you will neither betray our
trust nor let us down.

We have TWENTY ONE Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars
(US$21,500,000.00) which we made over time from over inflated contracts in
my Ministry (Federal Ministry of Health and Social Services).

We are seeking your assistance and permission to remit this amount
into your account or any other nominated account you can provide for us.

We are ready to compensate your much needed assistance with 25% of the total
sum, while 5% will be to settle all expenses by both parties and the
remaining 70% is for my colleagues and i.

Could you please notify me of your acceptance to carry out this
transaction urgently by e-mail or via my direct telephone line only on
the receipt of this message.

Kindly, acknowledge the receipt of this letter by sending to me by
email a copy of this letter with your private Telephone number. I shall
in turn inform you of the modalities for a formal application to secure
the necessary approvals for the immediate release of this fund into your
account.

Thanks for your anticipated co-operation.

Yours faithfully,

DR. PRINCEWILL DEBA

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam