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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million us 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)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Mohammed Yaya <mohammed.yaya004@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: yaya.mohammed@gmail.com
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 03:05:00 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: VERY URGENT::::::friend


ECOWAS BANK FOR INVESTMENT
AND DEVELOPMENT
LOME TOGO.
002289317670

Dear friend, =A0
=A0 =A0
I got your address via the internet. I have a proposal for you -this howeve=
r is not mandotary nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against yo=
ur will.I am 52, and work with a bank (one of the African leading banks in =
the West Coast).
=A0
Here in this bank existed a dormant account for the past 8 years who is now=
late.When we discovered that there had been no deposits nor withdrawals fr=
om this account for this
long period, I and my two other colleagues decided to carry out a system in=
vestigation and discovered that none of the family member nor relations of =
the late American is aware of this account.
This is the story in a nutshell. Now we want an account overseas where we c=
an
transfer this funds.

Thereafter, we had planned to destroy all related documents for this accoun=
t. It is a careful network and for the past eleven months we have worked ou=
t everything to ensure a hitch-free operation.The amount is not so much at =
the moment and plus all the accumulated interest the balance in this accoun=
t stands at-(9 .5 million US dollars).
=A0
Now our questions are:-

1. Can you handle this project?
2. Can we give you this trust?
3. What will be your commission if you can sponsor this project?

Consider this and get back at us as soon as possible.

Finally, it is our humble prayer that the information as contained herein b=
e accorded the necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy it deser=
ves.We Expect your urgent response if you can handle this project.I will ur=
ge you to get back us for quick action towards these project and if possibl=
e include with your person phone number for voice to voice clearification .
=A0
Respectfully yours,

MR MOHAMMED YAYA=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam