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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "trunk boxes" (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)
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • wilsontour95@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: Wilson Tour <wilsontour95@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: wilsontoure4208@hotmail.fr
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:34:57 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dear Friend. Peter Wilson Toure


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: wilsontour95@yahoo.com



- Dear Friend Greetings to you and Please permit me to introduce myself. I am Mr. Peter Wilson Toure, a South Africa citizen. I was a Coco Merchant before I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer which has defiled all medical solutions and according to medical experts I only have a few more weeks to live. As you read this you do not have to feel sorry for me as it is a universal truth that we all must die someday, I have particularly not lived my life well in spite of my wealth and possessions as I never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my business only. Though I was very rich I was never generous, I was never caring about people but only dedicated my time, resources and my business as these were the only thing I cared about. But now I regret all these as I now know that there is more to life than just accumulating all the wealth in the world as I lay helplessly on my sick bed. If I was given a second chance to live again I sure would live my life a different way from how I have lived it owing to what has befallen me now. As my last days alive are drawing closer and closer, I have already willed out most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few close friends. I also want my soul to be at peace with God and for him to be merciful on me and accept my soul and to this regard I have resolved to give my remaining funds to charity organizations as I want this to stand as one of the last deeds I indulge in on earth before I die. Though I have already distributed money to some charity organizations, Now that my health has deteriorated so badly I can no longer continue with this myself and also I do not trust my immediate family members or close friends on this as I have once asked them to close one of my accounts and distribute the funds therein to charity organizations around the Globe, But they greedily kept the money to themselves. Presently I am contacting you with this as I have lost confidence in them because it is obvious they are not contempted with what I have left for them. The last of my funds which no one knows of is a cash deposit of $ 28 Million Dollars, (Twenty Eight Million U.S Dollars) stashed in 2 metalic trunk boxes and declared as Personal effects of high security value which I have with a finance/Security Company in Abidjan Cote D'ivoire West Africa. All I am asking of you is to assist me in making the collection of this cash deposit and distributing of the funds to any charity of your choice after keeping 20% of the funds for yourself and your family. Please contact me as soon as you get this letter if you are capable and sincere to handle this project on my behalf so I can forward to you all relevant documents necessary for the claims and the name of the security firm where the funds are deposited. Please if you find this mail offensive, Ignor it and accept my appology, I also want you to put me in your daily prayer, asking God to forgive me my sins and accept me back in his Bosom so that i will have part in heaven as my last day is at hand, Thanks for now as i do look forward to hear from you in other to enable me procced and gave you all the required details and informations Which will back you up in getting the Fund retreived out and legal used according to my instruction to you, May God bless you Yours truly Peter Wilson Toure.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam