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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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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • consultantreal@excite.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Jennifer Bruna" <jennifer_bruna04@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 08:56:53 +0000
Subject: WILL DONATION

Dear Sir/Madam
My name is Mrs. Jennifer Bruna I am a dying woman who have decided to
donate what I have to you/church. I am 59 years old and I was
diagnosed for cancer for about 2 years ago, immediately after the death of my
husband, who has left me everything he worked for.
I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my
late husband to you for the good work of God, rather than allow my
relatives to use my husband hard earned funds ungodly. Please pray that the
good Lord forgive me my sins. I have asked God to forgive me and I
believe he has because He is a merciful God. I will be going in for an
operation in less than one hour.
I decided to WILL/donate the sum of $5,500,000 (five million five
hundred thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord, and also to
help the motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of
the widows.
At the moment I cannot take any telephone calls right now due to the
fact that my relatives are around me and my health status. I have
adjusted my WILL and my lawyer is aware I have changed my will you and he will
arrange the transfer of the funds from my account to you.
I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and
please use the funds well and always extend the good work to others.
Contact my lawyer (Barrister Jaapa Yo) with this specified
email:consultantreal@excite.com
and tell him that I have WILLED ($5,500,000.00) to you and I have also
notified him that I am WILLING that amount to you for a specific and
good work. I know I dont know you but I have been directed to do this.
Thanks and God bless.
NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until
the task is accomplished as I don't want anything that will jeopardize
my last wish. And Also I will be contacting with you by email as I
don't want my relation or anybody to know because they are always around
me.
Regards,
Jennifer Bruna

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam