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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.
• 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.
  • susowusu120@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: lot82@mchsi.com (Susan Owusu)
Date: Sat, 04 Oct 2008 10:28:20 +0000
Subject: HELLO PLEASE READ!!!

Hello Dear,
My Name is Susan Owusu from the Volta region in Ghana. I am the daughter of
the later Paramount Chief of the Volta region. If I must educate you on a
little history, Before March 1957 Ghana (West Africa) was called the Gold
Coast. The Portuguese who came to Ghana in the 15th Century found so much gold
between the rivers Ankobra and the Volta that they named the place Mina -
meaning Mine.

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/history/

Since the passing of the paramount chief, I have had problems with his
brothers who decided to take all that he has left behind. This, as you might
not know is a common practice here in Africa. Since the paramount chief was
not so educated and did not leave a will. The paramount chief did leave a
deposit of gold with a local security company in my name. I have kept this
very secret for a long time now. I have decided to look for a good friend whom
I can trust as I have completely lost confidence in my uncles over here. I
will attach my picture in my next mail as I will also like to have a picture
or identification of you as we look to build a good relationship. I did a
personal search on the internet and after looking at your profile decided to
contact while hoping we could become good friends.
I will give you further details once I get a positive response from you.

Reply through my personal email address: susowusu120@gmail.com

Regards,
Susan Owusu.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam