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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "million 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)
• 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: maria-aida1@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 11:03:26 +0200
Subject: From Mrs. Maria Aida


>From Mrs. Maria Aida
Dear ,

Greetings! My name is Mrs Maria Aida from Ivory Coast .Due to the sudden
death of my Husband Mr.Robinson Aida One of the great cocoa farmers In my
country who was murdered during a conflict in our country , I have been
thrown into a state of hopelessness by the present administration .I have
lost confidence with anybody within my country. I got your contacts through
personal research,and had to reach you through this medium. I will give you
more details when you reply. Due to my status as a refugee in South
Africa,1 am prohited in so many things here with my son so that is why I
have contacted you. My husband deposited $12.5million dollars with a
security firm in South Africa whose name is witheld for now till we
communicate. I will be happy if you can receive this funds and keep it safe
I assure you 20% of this fund and 5% for your expenses coming here. I will
need your telephone/mobile numbers so that we can communicate.please read
and reply back asap with your telephone number.
Best Regards
Mrs.Maria Aida for the family.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam