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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
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• 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)
  • "confidentiality of this transaction" (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)
• 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.
  • olufemi.pedro@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Olufemi Pedro" <olufemi.pedro@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: olufemipedro1@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 05:45:10 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: FROM OLUFEMI PEDRO.....(URGENT)


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



- Dear Friend, I know that you will be suprise to read from me and will be quick to ask how and why is this mail coming to you at such a time like this,since we dont know each other and have not met before but occassion warrant that I reach out to you for our mutual benefit. I hereby crave your indulgance to introduce myself to you. My name is Mr. Olufemi Pedro Director Foreign Remittance Zenith Bank Plc. Nig. and also the account officer to late Chief Mrs. Stella Obasanjo wife of former president of Nigeria. I am aware that internet is not the best option to communicate with you for such an important transaction due to lots of scam mails going on in the net which leaves one in doubt which one is real. But for my security as a serving banker and for the confidentiality of this transaction permit me to communicate you . I searched for you because you are important to me and without your assistance I can achieve little of my goal.Really, I am ready and interested in a private business partnership with you if only you can cooperate with me. I have the power by viture of my position to transfer $25million US Dollar to your account if only you can give me a strong assurance that you will not run away with my money when it gets into your account. The late Mrs Stella Obasanjo instructed me to transfer this fund to her private account in spain before she met her untimely death 23th October 2005, so I just want to let you know that I diverted the fund to an ESCROW ACCOUNT without the knowledge of anybody immditely her death was confirmed I now wish to introduce you as the final beneficiary of the fund to claim the fund for our mutual benefit. If you can e-mail me I will give you more details as soon as possible. Yours Sincerely, Mr. Olufemi Pedro Director Foreign Remittance Zenith Bank Plc. Nig.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam