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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:
  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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "demurrages " (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. )
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "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)
  • "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist 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.
  • ossewilliams@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: ossewilliams_01@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2008 09:16:01 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: PLEASE HELP ME


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:ossesusan.williams01@yahoo.com.co

PLEASE HELP ME

- Dear Friend, My name is Osse Williams and my younger sister Susan Williams a Zimbabwe National, but presently lives in Accra city of Ghana in West Africa because of the political crises, constants killing, and the war that happened in my country by the present ruling party and the opposition party in Zimbabwe which lead to the killing of parents. My Father was a political juggernaut and a wealthy man before his death. My consignment contains 12.6million United States Dollars (US$12.6, 000,000.00) and some quantity of gold and Diamond, which I cannot specify. The consignment is presently in the United States of America. The consignments got to the States through the help of Daniel Pedro; the fact is that Daniel Pedro is supposed to have delivered these consignments to a man called MR David Nelson in States. When Daniel Pedro arrived to deliver the consignments to him in the States after clearing the consignment from the Airport, he call Mr. David Nelson to tell him the description to his house for the delivery but his wife answered the call and told Daniel Pedro that her husband Mr. David Nelson had a fatal car accident which lead to his death a day before. Mr. David Nelson has already paid the demurrages from the security company, he paid for Bullion van that took the consignment to the airport and he paid for custom check report he also assisted us in getting the DRUG / ANTI TERRORIST CERTIFICATE, which is so expensive that he spent 45 thousand dollars to acquire it, but unfortunately he died in a car accident, that was why Daniel Pedro has to deposit the consignment with a warehouse over there in the States and called us to informed us about what is happening for us to get another beneficiary for him to make the delivery of the consignments. So dear, with due respect we are seeking for your assistance to received the consignments. Please do get back to us with your direct cell number and address so that we can forward you ore details and the diplomat number for you to call him who is presently in the States now. Please when you call him you will tell him that you are calling in respect of Osse and Susan Williams's consignment that is in the States. If Daniel Pedro asks if you have discussed with me tell him that you have discussed with me. Please strictly reply to my private email address ossewilliams@yahoo.com I await your urgent response. Thanks and God bless you

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam