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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "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)
• 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: georgeboateng100@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:04:37 +0000
Subject: please treat as urgent


Dear Sir,

Permit me to introduce myself to you as Mr. George Boateng a Ghanaian born
in greater Accra Region of Ghana in Sept 1959,
I am Custom officer and i have been in service for 12 years.

I discovered a consignment in our bondage warehouse that belongs to American
citizen by name Mr. Jeffery Ripley,
the consignment has been here for a while now and I have sort to get in
contact with him or any of his relatives but to avail.

It is sealed in diplomatic trunk box and contains American dollars totaling
7.2 Million USD after talking time to scan it.
As a custom officer I can not be directly connected to this money, so this
informed my contacting you for us to work so that you can assist receive
this fund for us to SHARE.

While you will be in entitle of 50% of the total fund as your own share. If
you accept to work with me to achieve this, do not hesitate to call me or
email me back for more clarification.
Upon the receipt of your e-mail to this message i shall details you on how
to proceed but be rest assured that the arrangement is top-notch and the
entire transaction will take less than seven days to be concluded.

I express my sincere appreciation, while awaiting your prompt response

Regards

George Boateng
+233206492834

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam