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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
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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:
  • "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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)
Reply-To: <kingkabila@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 02:30:58 +0000
Subject: From Kingsley Kabila




From Kingsley Kabila

I am Kingsley Kabila the son of the late Congo President Laurent Desire Kabila of the blessed memory. I know this letter might come to you as a surprise but I honestly do not intend to surprise you. I write this letter in respect of my intention to invest the sum of US$12M (Twelve Million United State Dollars) with you. This money was got through the sales of Diamond and Timber when my father was the head of state of Congo before his death as he was assassinated on 16th Jan 2001. Actually, my half brother is now the president of our country but his mother and my mother are not in the best of relationship because of who among them will be the first lady tussle and this ultimately affected us their children. We have to leave to Accra Ghana for security reasons, while the funds were deposited in Europe. Honestly we contacted you because of our incapacitation and continue remain in Accra Ghana as refugee on asylum. I will be honoured if I can be given the privilege of investing this money with your help as soon as you can recover it from Europe.

Best Regards,
Kingsley Kabila

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam