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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million american 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: ange02@mail.ru
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:45:37 -0400
Subject: DEAREST ONE


DEAREST ONE
I AM MISS Ange ESSOM FROM IVORY COAST AND I AM CONTACTING YOU BECAUSE
I NEED YOUR HELP IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A SUM OF MONEY THAT MY DEAD
FATHER LEFT FOR ME BEFORE HE DIED.THIS MONEY IS USD 7.5 MILLION
AMERICAN DOLLARS AND THE MONEY IS IN A BANK HERE IN ABIDJAN.
MY FATHER WAS A VERY RICH COCOA FARMER AND HE WAS POISONED BY HIS
BUSINESS COLLEAGUES AND NOW I WANT YOU TO STAND AS MY GUIDIAN AND
APPOINTED BENEFICIARY AND RECEIVE THE MONEY IN YOUR COUNTRY SINCE I AM
ONLY 19 YEARS AND WITHOUT MOTHER OR FATHER.
PLEASE I WILL LIKE YOU TO REPLY TO THIS EMAIL SO THAT I WILL TELL YOU
ALL THE INFORMATION SO THAT THIS MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO YOU SO
THAT YOU WILL GET ME PAPERS TO TRAVEL TO YOUR COUNTRY TO CONTINUE MY
EDUCATION THERE.I AM WAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY AND I WILL CALL YOU
AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM YOU. I AM SENDING TO YOU A COPY OF MY PICTURE
SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW THE PERSON YOU ARE HELPING.
THANKS.
MISS Ange ESSOM

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam