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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:40:25 +0100
Subject: Urgent response needed.


Dear Confidant,

I'm an Executor of the Late Bishop Benson Idahosa's multy million dollars
Will to the public before his death some years ago. The Willed amount of
money was stipulated to be given to some humanitarian centres, unpriviledged
and individuals who have shown their will for the propagation of the God's
work all over the world.

As an executor of the Will, I have made money available to those selected,
but there is a surplus sum of Fourteen million, five hundred thousand United
States dollars (US$14,500.000.00) left over.

But no one is yet aware of this remainder which is the reasons I want you to
receive the remainder now as one of the beneficiaries, so that I and you
will share the funds in equal part.

If you are interested, get back to me with your contact information so that
I will forward your name to the fiduciary institution as the beneficiary to
the left over.

Remain Blessed,
Rev.Mark Kodjo.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam