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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million 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)
  • ",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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Prince Williams" <tafarwilliams12@googlemail.com>
Reply-To: williamtars@live.com
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 22:37:10 -0700
Subject: I NEED A TRUSTWORTHY PERSON WHO CAN INVEST OUR INHERITANCE VALUE AT


*
I AM TARFA WILLIAMS FROM SEIRRA LEONE AND RESIDING PRESENTLY IN EUROPE WITH
MY
MOTHER (A WIDOW). WE ARE STAYING AT A REFUGEE CAMP WAITING FOR AN ANSWER TO
OUR
APPLICATION FOR POLITICAL ASSYLUM, DUE TO THE CIVIL WAR IN MY COUNTRY IN
WHICH I
LOST MY FATHER ALHAJI
HAMMED WILLIAMS AND MY SISTER, THE WILL HAVE BEEN READ PROMPTED ME TO
CONTACT
YOU.

I NEED A TRUSTWORTHY AND HONEST INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD BE READY TO HELP MY
FAMILY
INVEST OUR FUND WISELY AND PROFITABLY OUR INHERITANCE IS VALUE AT
$100,000,000.00 ( ONE HUNDRED MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) FROM MY LATE
FATHER. THIS FUND HAS BEEN SECURED WITH A PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANY IN
EUROPE.

TO CLAIM THIS FUND FROM THIS SECURITY FIRM I HAVE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS
INCLUDING THE CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT AND THE ORIGINAL COPIES OF THE BANK
STATEMENT FROM MY LATE FATHERS' LAWYER. IN THE DESIRE TO INVEST THIS FUND
WE WILL APPRECIATE A STABILE COMPANY WITH
GROWTH POTENTIALS.

WE WISH TO INVEST THIS FUND IN YOUR COMPANY OR ANY OTHER COMPANY OR PROFIT
ORIENTED VENTURE UNDER YOUR ADVISE AND SUPERVISION.

YOU ARE THE HOPE OF THIS FAMILY AS THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO, DUE TO OUR
STATUS HERE. YOU WILL OF COURSE BE ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED WITH 30% FOR YOUR
EFFORT, WHICH WE WILL DISCUSS AS SOON AS YOU ACCEPT TO HELP US IN THIS
REGARD.
I WILL BE WILLING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION
ABOUT MY FAMILY AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE AN ACCEPTANCE MAIL FROM YOU.

YOU SHOULD ALSO SEND US YOUR COMPANY'S FLYERS OR PROFILE INCLUDING SOME
HINT ABOUT INVESTMENT IN YOUR COUNTRY. HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON WHILE
THANKING YOU IN ANTICIPATION.
REPLY TO **williamtars@live.com* <williamtars@live.com>
*

BEST REGARDS,
PRINCE TARFA WILLIAMS
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam