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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:
  • "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. )
  • "million us 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)
  • "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +228 (Togo, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2008 04:17:26 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Can I give you this trust?



Dear=A0Friend,
=A0
I have a proposal for you, this however is not mandatory nor will I in any =
manner compel you to honour against your will.=20

I am Mr.=A0Morris Thompson=A0and I work with a security company (i.e The Gl=
obal Security Company Lome Togo). Here in this company existed a dormant ac=
count for the past 8 years which belong to an American national, late Mr. R=
oy Howard who died on Alaska Airlines.=A0

When I discovered that there had been no deposits nor withdrawals from this=
account for this long period, I decided to carry out a system investigatio=
n and discovered that non of the family members nor relations of the late p=
erson is aware of this account. This is the story in a nutshell.=A0

Now I want an account overseas where the company will transfer this funds. =
Thereafter, I had planned to destroy all related documents for this account=
.. It is a careful network and for the past eleven months I have worked out =
everything to ensure a hitch-free operation.=A0
The amount is not so much at the moment and plus all the accumulated intere=
st the balance in this account stands at-(US$10.5 million US dollars).=A0

=A0Now my questions are:-=20

1. Can you handle this project?
2. Can I give you this trust?
3. What will be your commission?=A0

If you can sponsor this transfer. Consider this and get back to me as soon =
as possible. Finally, it is our humble prayer that the information as conta=
ined herein be accorded the necessary attention, urgency as well as the sec=
recy it deserves.=20

=A0
I expect your urgent response if you can handle this project.Please email m=
e for confirmation that you will assist me and i will also appreciate you g=
ive me an urgent telephone call for confirmation.=A0

I am expecting your urgent response as soon as you receive my message.=A0

Respectfully yours,=A0

Mr.=A0Morris Thompson.
Tel:+228=A0996 11 99.=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam