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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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)
  • "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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin 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.
  • daramy0011@yahoo.com
  • chief11@walla.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: daramy allan <daramy0011@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: daramy20@walla.com
Date: Sun, 7 Sep 2008 09:24:28 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: VERY URGENT AND CONFIDENTIALITY.


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: daramy0011@yahoo.com



- Dear Sir/Madam,I am Chief Allan K. Daramy, Bank Manager of Zenith Bank, Lagos,Nigeria.I have urgent and very confidential business proposal for you.On June 6, 1999,a Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Kari Johnson made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$66,500,000.00, (Sixty-six Million, five hundred thousand Dollars) in my branch.Upon maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that Mr. Kari Johnson died from an Automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Kari Johnson did not Declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. No one will ever come forward to claim it.According to Nigerian Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Nigerian Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a Foreigner to stand in as next of kin to late Mr. Kari Johnson. I am writing you because I as a public servant cannot operate a foreign account or have an account more than $1 Million.All these are to make sure that the fruits of this old man's lab or will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple. I will like you to provide me immediately your full names and address telephone and fax numbers and bank account details were the funds would be transferred into. For you to be more comfortable with this project please open a new account for I am not out to defraud your account.The money will be moved out for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you. If you are interested, plea se reply back to me with this email, chief11@walla.com, I assure you that it is risk free Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. (Buying of properties like houses, hotels etc).Best regards, Mr. Allan K. Daramy

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam