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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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "trunk boxes" (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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a orphan scam.
• 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.
  • oma_rp5@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Omar Prisca <oma_rp5@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: omar100prisca@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2008 02:39:14 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: A CALL FOR HELP


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: oma_rp5@yahoo.com



- Dearest One, Good day, how are you and your family? I hope fine? Please, I am sorry to bother you with my problem. I know that it's not by mistake that I am contacting you but by the special grace of God. I am Omar Prisca, 17years old and the only child of my late parents late {Chief and Mrs. Gabriel Omar} My mother died when i was a baby. My father established his business in Accra Ghana, and he died shortly of heart attack, his death has now made me an orphan and i am exposed to danger. Before the unfortunate death of my father,he told me about some money {$9.5 million U.S.Dollars} and gold dust which he kept inside two metallic boxes that he deposited with a Security Company here in Accra Ghana as a family treasure. Since the death of my father, my uncles have sent me out of our house and collected most of my late fathers properties except this money that they do not know about, they said that i am a female child that i do not have any right in the family. I am presently taking shelter in a church with a certain pastor and his family. My father said he used my name as his only child as his next of kin to the deposit and in case he fails to make it that I should take care of myself and get someone to help invest the money for me. I have all the legal documents with me here and the key to the boxes, my father did not disclose the content of the two trunk boxes to the security company to avoid the officials from raising eye brows to it. Presently I have contacted the security company about my claim of the trunk boxes but the security company told me that my father made an agreement with the company management that they should not release the two trunk boxes to me without a foreign partner that is why i am seeking for your assistance to help me stand before the company as my foreign beneficiary partner or my guardian to receive the trunk boxes in your country so that i can come over to meet you and continue my education. Please help me and stand as my guardian and contact the security company. I want you to come down here to be sure of what i am saying and after the transaction, i will go back with you After you have help me get my inheritance. I am willing to offer to you 15% of the total sum as a compensation for your help and you will also help me with the investment of this money since i do not have any idea of investment Expecting your soonest respond. Thank you and God bless. Omar Prisca.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam