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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:
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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:
  • "dear friend" (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. )
  • ",500,000" (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)
• 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.
  • alexofori1@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Chief Alex Ofori" <alex_ofori1@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: alexofori1@aim.com
Date: 7 Sep 2008 13:55:31 -0000
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION

FROM CHIEF.ALEXANDER OFORI
ACCRA, GHANA

Dear Friend,

My name is Chief Alex Ofori political activist and consultant. I am the
treasurer of my party's executive committee on Financial matters in Ghana.

My aim of contacting you is to crave your indulgence to assist us in
securing some funds abroad for safe keeping which incidentally was kept to
help us Finance the forth coming elections in my Country.

Fortunately with my immediate assistance, and contact, we were able to
deposit the money in a security company vault in Ghana private goods
pending
when the fund would be needed. The need to contact you arose from the fact
that the present government is cracking down on all oppositions, trying to
trace all the funds and properties owned by our members and party
faithfuls.


However If they succeed in tracing these funds to us, they will seize it
thereby incapacitating our quality campaign plans. We wish to relocate this
fund in a foreigner's name urgently to avoid any trace.Therefore all I need
from you is an assurance that you can handle these amount valued
(US$19,500,000) confidentially.

I would want you to handle this proposal with utmost care and understanding
because our election is forth coming and any misfortune will affect us
adversely so your maximum cooperation will be most appreciated.

Yours sincerely,
Chief Alex Ofori
Tel:+233 245 677 530

Reply to this email:alexofori1@aim.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam