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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (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. )
  • "trunk box" (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 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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "god fearing " (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.
  
• 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.
  • sylvie_105@hotmail.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: sylvie_105@hotmail.fr
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:19:24 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: From/:Miss.Sylvie & Kenneth Nicol



From/:Miss.Sylvie & Kenneth Nicol
ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST
WEST-AFRICA.
E-mail/: sylvie_105@hotmail.fr
 
Dear Friend.
 
With due respect and humility I write you this letter which I believe you would be of great assistance to me and my younger brother.
I am Sylvie Nicol-Wilson, the daughter of the late Mr Melron Nicol-Wilson of blessed memory. Prior to my father's assassination by the rebel forces loyal to the revolutionary United Front (RUF), he was the Director General National Gold and Diamond Mining Corporation of Sierra-Leone.
 
Few days before my father was assassinated, he instructed me and my younger brother ( Kenneth Nicol.) to move out of Sierra-Leone and also to go in his underground strong room where the documents of money he has deposited in a SECURITY COMPANY in Abidjan Cote d´Ivoire in one trunk box as family valuables and treasures with  my name  as the beneficiary. The amount is (Ten million, seven hundred thousand United State Dollars. (USD$10.700, 000) We managed to escape to Abidjan the Republic of Cote d´Ivoire through the help of my father’s friend who is a trailer driver, as our travelling document was seized. We am now looking for a trustworthy and God fearing person who will handle this money for rapid profit for the future of me and my younger brother (Kenneth Nicol)
 
For your information, the security company did not know the real content of the box as money and we do not wish them to know until the money is transferred to your account, as it was deposited as family valuables and treasures. Meanwhile, we want to leave Cote d´Ivoire entirely for investment of this money in your country and mostly for our future. We want you to please assist us to claim the box from the SECURITY COMPANY and to deposit the money in your account as to order the bank to transfer the money to your account in your country, as our foreign partner.
 
We have it in mind to reward you with a certain percentage for your assistance as soon as we hear from you. please my sister Sylvie is sick and hospitalised so I spend most time with her at the hospital, You can call me with this number +22545562008, as soon as I receive your mail we will give you more details regarding this transaction and our terrible condition here.
 
May God protect and guide you as you assist us.
Yours sincerely,

Miss.Sylvie & Kenneth Nicol

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam