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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
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• 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. )
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned 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: Rev Samuel Dike <revsamueldike00987_9@msn.com>
Reply-To: <revsamueldike01@jmail.co.za>
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:15:50 +0000
Subject: DONATION FOR CHARITY WORK,



Dear Beloved

DONATION FOR CHARITY WORK,

May God be with you and richly bless you as you read this without prejudice. Amen! I am Rev Samuel Dike from Cotonou in the Republic of Benin and a lawyer by profession. To the Glory of God, I was priviledged to be a close friend and confidant to a late brother in Christ Rev. Jeff Orji, who worked tirelessly both in his private life and in the service of God in his lifetime before his devine call. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen!

In all my association with this late brother and friend, this revelation, the object of this mail was never made known to me because the late Rev. Jeff Orji lived a very disciplined life. He was wealthy before he went into ministry and adequately provided for his family and also cared for people who were opportuned to come in close contact with him.

However, shortly before his call to eternal Glory, he had summoned me to his sick bed and made me promise to carry out his last wishes as a trusted friend and confidant. I promised without knowing what he was about to say and also, at the time, I believed he was not going to die. Well, he told me he had some funds which he registered with a security company as a consignment, which he intended to be used for charity,ministry, evangelical work or otherwise when he was gone, but did not want his immediate family to know about for fear of subversion of his promise and pledge to God.

He then prayed for me and blessed me trusting that I would not subvert his pledge to God. Before he died, he gave me information concerning the fund and what I was to do. With all due respect to him, I waited for the completion of the burial rites and mourning and other sundry matters concerning him before proceeding to reach you.

I have prayed concerning this issue for God's guidance and if in your heart you geniunely desire to use this fund for charity work in any form whether for orphanage , ministry, evangelical work or otherwise in relation to God's work, do get in touch with me and let us pray together over this before we can make further arrangements.

God bless you once again and as you receive, live God all the Glory.

Yours in the Lord,

Rev Samuel Dike

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam