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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:
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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.
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • raymlindon@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs MELISSA EDWARDS" <melaugustakim@netscape.net>
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2006 04:30:08 -0800
Subject: PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU RECEIVED IT


Hello,
My name is Mrs. Melissa Edward I am a dying woman who had decided to donate
what I have to you.
I am 59 years old and was diagnosed of cancer about 2 years ago,
immediately after the death of my husband, who had 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's hard earned funds ungodly. I have asked God to forgive
me all my sins and i believe he has because He is a merciful God. I will be
going in for an operation, and i pray that i survive the operation. I have
decided to WILL/donate the sum of $3,200,000(Three million Two hundred
thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord, and to help the
motherless, less privileged and also for the assistance of the widows. At
the moment I cannot take any telephone calls, due to the fact that my
relatives are around me and i have been restricted by my doctor from taking
telephone calls because i deserve all thee rest i can get. Presently, I have
informed my lawyer about my decision in WILLING this fund 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. Kindly Contact my
lawyer through this email address raymlindon@netscape.net if you are
interested, so that he can arrange the release of the funds ($3,200,000.00)
to you. I know I have never met you but I have been directed to do this by
God, and i hope you act sincerely.
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, due to the fact that i do not want relatives or family members
standing in the way of my last wish.
Happy
Love, Mrs. M. Edward

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam