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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:
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • alfaroukwilliam@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "williams alfarouk" <willi_00@gala.net>
Reply-To: alfaroukwilliams16@yahoo.com
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:50:09 +0000
Subject: From Williams Alfarouk/Appeal for Assistance.


*From Williams Alfarouk/Appeal for Assistance.
Dearest,
Greetings, I'm Williams Alfarouk from Sierra Leone.
I'm writing you from Rep of Cote d'Ivoire where I have been taking refuge
after the brutal war and Murder of my parents by the rebels during the
renewed Fighting in my country Sierra Leone. Because of the war my late
Father sold his shipping company and took me to a nearby country Cote
d'Ivoire where he deposited US$18, 300,000.00 Million(Eighteen Million Three
Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in his foreign account with one of
the bank here in Cote d'Ivoire.Please, I have prayed before contacting you
with the trust that you will be a help to me with the current political
situation in Ivory Coast now, I'm seeking for your assistance to transfer
this Money to your account for a good investment Project in your country and
also relocate to your country to further my study. I'm willing to offer you
20% of the total sum for your assistance. Please for your good information
this transaction Is 100% risk free and prove in no way connected with any
illegal transaction, Please Help me to get out of this terrible situation
and as soon as you receive this mail Please kindly call me +22545370655 and
contact me ( alfaroukwilliam@yahoo.fr**) for more details (is very
important) The bank here is ready to transfer the money to your account.

Best Regards,
+22545370655
Williams*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam