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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million 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)
  • "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 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.
  • +22508759948 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: benjaminyerima9@sohu.com
Reply-To: benjamin_yerima1@yahoo.fr
Date: Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:56:39 GMT
Subject: From: Benjamin Yerima.

From: Benjamin Yerima.
Abidjan Cote D'ivoire West Africa.
Home address 05 B.P.1752 cocody 01.
Telephone: +225 08 75 99 48

Good Day,

I wish to solicit your help in migrating to your country and investing my funds. My name is Benjamin Yerima I am the son of late Dr and Mrs Nana Yerima, Before the death of My father he was a big exporter of Cocoa and coffee in Cote D'ivoire. My father and my mother was killed by the rebels group in Cote D'ivoire.

Before the death of My father he give me a secret concerning a deposit he made in security company in Abidjan West Africa. He deposit the sum of US$18. 5 million dollars in my name.
I would love you to come here in person so that we will meet face to face to be able to go together to the security company to move this money out of the security company in Cote d'Ivoire.

My fathers relatives made some attempts on my life in order to inherite my fathers wealth. Due to this attitude of my father's relatives, I decided to run to Abidjan where i am presently living in a hotel.

I am sincerely solicit your assistance to help me move the money for investment in your country. Your reward for the assistance your are to render to me is negotiable.


Remain Blessed
Benjamin Yerima.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam