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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.

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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • ethlynrichards@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Ethlyn Richards <ethlynrichards@mmail.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Sep 2006 09:04:33 +0100
Subject: Let us be merciful


Dear Sir/Madam,
I am very sorry to have sent you an unsolicited mail, but is so because i need your support for the support of the less priviledged.
My names are Mrs. Ethlyn Richards, an American married to Rev. Gordon H. Richards who worked with the America embassy in England. We were both married for 46years without children.
I do not intend to waste much of your time. I inherited a reasonable amount of money from my late husband that is in private deposit box in a security company in Ivory coast Abidjan which i intend to give out for charity purpose, but to a God fearing individual or firm that will receive and use the money to help ORPHANGES,WIDOWS and their likes. I am looking for someone that I can trust to handle this funds.
For health reasons, i am not very mobile. Given that i do not have a child and due to I and my late husbands commitment to give to charity works, i am committed to bring this singular wish alive before i pass on. Presently am in my husband personal property in abidjan ivory coast responding to treatment, as we have lived here for over 15years and my personnal physician is here too.
The truth is i know that based on what is going on all over the internet, people find it very difficult to assist one another but i assure you that as soon as you can garantee me of your trust and honestly i will be able to work with you. As soon as you get intouch with me i will give you the details on the way forward.
Please help me in bringing my dreams alive, as life for me is nothing without Harry.
I can be reached through my private email address below.
Email: ethlynrichards@hotmail.com
May you be richly blessed.
Yours beloved,
Mrs. Ethlyn Richards

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam