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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:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • reginaahmed@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR.REGINA AHMED" <reginaahmedvraywxtk@netscape.net>
Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 05:54:25 -0700
Subject: THANKS

Greetings,

My name is Mrs. Regina Ahmed, widow to late Mr. Hassan Ahmed former owner of PETROLEUM AND GAS Company, here in Kuwait. I am 63years old, suffering from long time cancer of the breast. From all indications my condition is really deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't live more than 2 months according to my doctors. This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. I don't want your pity but i need your trust. My late husband died early last year from heart attack, and during the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child. My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth. The doctor has advised me that I will not live for more than 2 months, so I have now decided to spread all my wealth, to contribute mainly to the development of charity in Africa, America, Asia and Europe, Am sorry if you are embarrassed by my mail.
I found your e-mail address in the web directory, and I have decided to contact you,
but if for any reason you find this mail offensive, you can ignore it and please accept my apology before my late husband died he was a major oil tycoon, in Kuwait and deposited the sum of USD$ 80 million dollars (Eighty million United States dollars) in a company in Europe some years ago, that is all I have left now, I need you to collect this funds and distribute it yourself to charity .so that when I die my soul can rest in peace. The funds will be entirely in hands and management. I hope God gives you the wisdom to touch many lives, my main concern is 10% of this money will be for your time and effort and 5% is for any miscellaneous expenses that may be incur in the process of the release of my deposit, while 85% goes to charity.

Please reply back to me on this email: reginaahmed@netscape.net

God bless you.

Mrs. Regina Ahmed

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam