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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:
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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
  • janewilliams_a1@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: janewilliams@zipmail.com.br
Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 18:30:27 -0700
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?GOD=20BLESS=20YOUR?=

Dear Beloved Friend,
I got your email address from a mail Directory and decided to mail you for
a permission to go ahead. I am Mrs. Jane williams from Holland. I am married
to John williams who worked with a construction company in Asia for twenty
Years before he died in the Tsunami disasters, we were married but without
Any children. Since his death I decided not to re-marry and presently I
am 70 Years old.When my late husband was Alive he deposited the sum of $15.5M.
(fifteen million five hundred thousand dollars) with a Security Company.

Presently this money is still with the Security Company and the management
just Wrote me as the beneficiary to come forward to receive the money or
rather Issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf
if I cannot come over.I am presently in a hospital where I have been undergoing
treatment Cancer of the lungs, I have since lost my ability To talk and
my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to Live.
I want a person that is trustworthy that will utilize 80% of this money
to fund churches, orphanages and widows around the world but in my name
Mrs.Jane Williams. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the
contact of the Security Company. I will also issue you a letter of authority
that will prove you as the new beneficiary of this fund.
Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated here in and keep
this contact confidential till such a time this funds get to your custody.
This is to ensure that nothing jeopardizes my last wish on earth. I await
your urgent reply to
janewilliams_a1@yahoo.com

Much christain love,
Mother Jane Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam