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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" 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.
  • geraldwelsh1414@yahoo.com.au (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?iso-8859-1?q?gerald=20welsh?= <geraldwelsh1414@yahoo.com.au>
Reply-To: geraldwelshkkk@yahoo.ca
Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2006 04:11:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Dear friend


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: geraldwelsh1414@yahoo.com.au

Dear friend,


As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for

me, because I believe everyone will die someday.


My name is Gerald M. Welsh a crude oil dealer

i am 51 yrs of age I lost my wife and two dauthers in a car accident

here in the Nigeria. I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer

and have been in the hospital hear in Nigeria for a very long time.

It has defied all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have

about few months to live, according to the

medical experts.


I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I

never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my

business and wealth. Though I am very rich, I was

never generous, I was always hostile to people and

only focused on my business as that was the only thing

I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know

that there is more to life than just wanting to have

or make all the money in the world.


I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to

this world I would live my life a different way from

how I have lived it till date. Now that God is calling

me, I have willed and shared most of my properties and

assets to my immediate and extended family members,

including few close friends.


I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul, so

I have decided to give alms to charity organizations,

as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do

on earth before Gods call. So far, I have distributed

money to some charity organizations hear in Nigeria,

Algeria ,Malaysia and also the Tsunami victims. Now that

my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do

this myself anymore.


I once asked members of my family to close one of my

account and distribute the money which I have there

to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they

refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do

not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be

contended with what I have left for them.


The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge

cash deposit of eight million united states

dollars ($8.000.000) that I have with a finance and

trust Company in Europe. I would want you to help me

collect this deposit and distribute it to charity

organizations in your country .


I would want you to keep 20% of the funds to yourself

and dispatch the rest to charity organizations. Please reply

this mail as soon as possible even if you cannot

handle this transaction on my behalf.


God be with you,

Gerald M.Welsh.





- gerald welsh

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam