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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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 beneficiary," (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Gordon Stewart <info@gordonandloeff.f9.co.uk>
Reply-To: gstewart@o2.pl
Date: Mon, 03 Oct 2005 13:59:22 -0700
Subject: Hello.


Dear Beneficiary,
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr. Martin, I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned undelivered.
I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address on the "Will", I wish to notify you that Late Engr. Martin made you a beneficiary to his "Will", he left the sum of Five Million One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars to you in the codicil and last testament to
his "Will", this may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but I have been given the task to locate you.
Being a widely traveled man (Late Engr. Martin), he must have been in contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good, Late Engr. Martin until his death was a former managing director and pioneer staff of a giant construction company.
He was a very dedicated business man who loved to give out. His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time. Late Engr. Martin died on the 5th day of February 2004 at the age of 82 years, and his "WILL" is now ready for execution.
According to instructions left by him these funds should be used in the support for Humanitarian/Charity activities and to help the poor and the needy.
Please If I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job, I hope to hear from you in no distant
time.

Yours in His service,
Gordon.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam