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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:
  • "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. )
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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: marvin.farley@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:56:03 +0100
Subject: GOOD DAY!



Dear Sir/Ma,
 
 I know this proposal will come to you as a surprise but it requires utmost confidence in you. My name is Marvin Farley from Sierria Leone; I am the son to late Cheif Desmond Kai-farley who was a chief of Boo Kingdom.
 
 My late father deposited the sum of fifteen million U.S dollars($15m) in a security company as a family items for security reasons, here in Accra Ghana when the crisis in my country was sproting up rapidly before his death, he was killed by the oppositing rebels who were fighting to take over the diamond and gold mines in our kingdom.
 
I am therefore soliciting for a trust worthy person who can help me receive this funds oversea for investment purposes. I will offer 20% to you and 5% for any expenses inured.(both as miscellaneous and accrued expenses).All i need from you is to be my foreign Beneficiary.
 
That is why i need your help because the proposed partner is dead and the company has given us theauthority to appoint someone who will stand and receive the boxes, i trust and have the confident in you that is why i have sending this mail to you.
 
Please you can get back to me if you accept my proposal.
 
Thanks and God bless.
 
Marvin Farley

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam