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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "million us 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Judy A. Wilcox" <motherwilcox9@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: motherjudyawilcox@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 07 Oct 2006 07:57:43 +0000
Subject: BELOVED IN CHRIST JESUS.

BELOVED IN CHRIST JESUS,

CALVARY GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, I AM MRS. JUDY A.
WILCOX, A WIDOW TO LATE WILCOX .I AM 59YEARS OLD; I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTIAN
CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE BREAST. FROM ALL
INDICATIONS, MY CONDITION IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT
I MAY NOT LIVE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE THE CANCER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO
A VERY SEVERE STAGE.

MY LATE HUSBAND WAS KILLED DURING THE GULF WAR, AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR
MARRIAGE WE HAD A SON WHO WAS ALSO KILLED IN A COLD BLOOD DURING THE GULF
WAR. MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS DEATH, I INHERITED ALL
HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH. MY PERSONAL PHYSICIAN TOLD ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE
FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AND I AM SO SCARED ABOUT THIS. SO, I NOW DECIDED TO
DIVIDE PART OF THIS WEALTH, BY CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF EVANGELISM
IN AFRICA, AMERICA, EUROPE AND ASIAN COUNTRIES.

I SELECTED YOU AFTER VISITING THE WEBSITE FOR THIS PURPOSE AND PRAYED OVER
IT, I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $4MILLION US DOLLARS TO THE MOTHERLESS
BABY HOMES, NEEDY, POOR, CHARITY HOMES AND WIDOWS TOO. PLEASE NOTE THAT,
THIS FUND IS LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN SOUTH AFRICA THEREFORE MY LAWYER
WILL FILE AN IMMEDIATE APPLICATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE MONEY IN THE NAME
OF YOUR MINISTRY. PLEASE, DO NOT REPLY ME IF YOU HAVE THE INTENTION OF USING
THIS FUND FOR PERSONAL USE OTHER THAN ENHANCEMENT OF EVANGELISM.

LASTLY, I WANT YOU TO BE PRAYING FOR ME AS REGARDS MY ENTIRE LIFE AND MY
HEALTH BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT SINCE MY SPIRITUAL BIRTH LATELY THAT
WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST IN ONE'S LIFE IS VANITY UPON VANITY.

IF YOU HAVE TO DIE SAYS THE LORD, KEEP FIT AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE CROWN OF
LIFE. MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE LOVE OF GOD, AND THE SWEET
FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH YOU.
I AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY.
YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST,
MRS. JUDY A. WILCOX.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam