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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: umar4ben@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:15:24 +0100
Subject: GOOD DAY!


Dear Friend,
  
  
Is my pleasure for writing you this letter, hope you are fine? I want to use this opportunity to introduce myself well to you, I am Ben umar, The son of a late Chief Agyman Umar of D R CONGO, I came to know you in the course of my search for a reliable and God fearing partner and I decide to contact you because I believe you are a reputable person and I felt you can help us over this confidential matter.I count on your integrity and honesty to be able to
handle this business. I have a truck box that contain $15.5million U.S DOLLARS
which is already in USA.
       
The consignment is right now in America, my Late father business partner Mr.Richard Mcwilliams, who was suppose to receive this consignment was asking for 50% which I and my mother did not agree on for any reason,that is why we have to stop the delivery to him immediately.We are ready to give you 20% from the total money because that was the initial agreement we hadwith my late father partner, Mr.Richard Mcwilliams before he later change his mind because of his greed which is the reason why we had to stop the delivery to him.
       
The director of the shipping company just inform us yesterday that if we can not provide a new business partner within this period of time, that the consignment we be return back to GHANA, so we need you to stand as my family trustee to receive the consignment in the state. If you are willing to help us receive this consignment, all you just have to do is to contact the shipping
company here in Ghana so that they can give you instruction to their agent holding the consignment in America.
       
If not for God they would have return the consignment back to Africa but God has been helping us. Please reply my mail so that I can give you the contact of the shipping company to discuss with them on the release of this consignment to you and all you just have to do for us is to receive thisconsignment. And that reminds me the shipping company does not know the content of the box, because it was deposited as a family treasure.
       
Regards,
Ben umar For the family.
Please do get get back to me with my personal email

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam