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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:
  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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 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)
  • "abidjan" (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.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22508157757 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: mariam alfarouk <mariam_fa110@yahoo.fr>
Reply-To: ma1957@y7mail.com
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 11:48:45 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: as my partner


+225 0815 7757
 
Dear Friend,
With warm heart I want to offer my friendship and hope that this message reach you in good faith, however strange or surprising it may be for you as we have not met personally or have any relationship before, I humbly ask for you to consider the importance and benefit. Be rest assured that I contacted you after my search for a reliable and capable foreigner that will be of help to me.
 
I am Mrs Mariam Alfarouk, and I happy to request for your assistance of investment of my money. I am in Abidjan, (Ivory Coast), with my son, and I like you to write to me directly use my email address; concerning my monetary deposits (my consignment containing the sum of $ 22 million dollars), which I have safely deposited with a security company, here in Abidjan, the Ivory Coast and I want the money transferred to your country for investment. I will write more details as I hear from you. You can call me or my son on; 00225 0815 7757, or send me an email directly.
 
Thank you and May God bless you
From Mariam

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam