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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.

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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:
  • "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447924050068
• 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.
  • mrsmariamassa@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs.Mariam Assal <assamariam@aim.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2007 20:43:50 +0200
Subject: Please respond urgently.


Dear Beloved,

As you read this mail,my desire is that You find a Place in Your Heart to =
assist me in fulfilling My Late Husband's Last Wish/Will.I am Mrs. Mariam =
Assal from Lebanon.I am Married to Mr. Bassem Assal also from Lebanon,who was =
a Merchant in the U.A.E.We were married for fifteen years without a child.He =
died on 5th of July 2003 after a brief illness that lasted Six weeks.After My =
Husband=92s Death,I was forced to flee Lebanon to the Northern Ireland due to =
Constant Intimidation and Harrassment from My Late Husband's Relative.

Before my husband's death,he made a vow to use his wealth to bring succour to =
the Orphans and the less privileged in the society.And since his death,I have =
been trying to get someone I can trust to help me execute his wish, hence my =
decision to contact You for Your Assistance.When My late husband was alive,he =
deposited the sum of US$8,500,000.00 (Eight Million,Five Hundred Thousand =
United States dollars) with a Private Finance Company in United Kingdom as =
Family Valuables and it is still with them till Date.
I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer and presently resident in =
Northern Ireland where I am undergoing medical treatment.It has defiled all =
forms of medical Treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to =
live,according to medical experts.I sent you this Letter with the assistance =
of my Private Nurse (Naomi Silva).

I want someone who is God-fearing, whom will use this money to fund churches, =
orphanages and widows and to ensure that the Funds are used to assist the =
Less Privileged. My Relatives and friends have plundered so much of my Late =
Husband's wealth since my illness.Hence, I am appealing to you to help me =
stand as the beneficiary and collect the Funds from the Finance Company in =
United Kingdom. I am contacting you to help me carry out my last wishes. I =
have so much faith and for this reason,I am entrusting this huge =
responsibility on you.

1. I want you to claim on my behalf, the deposited funds.
2. I want you to build an orphanage home in your country with part of the =
funds.
3. I want you to fund churches,mosques,less priviledges and the needy most =
especially orphanage homes and widows.

I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this =
money and my husband's relatives are determined to kill me so that they can =
Claim His Estate/Properties in Lebanon.Hence,I don't want my husband's hard =
earned funds to be misused or spent in the manner in which my late husband =
did not specify. As soon as I receive Your response comfirming Your =
acceptance to act as My Representative to Claim these Deposit,I shall
furnish You relevant information thereto,which will authorise the Release of =
these Funds to You as my duly assigned Beneficiary.

I want You to take Custody of the fund and use it as I have instructed.If you =
are willing to do this and carry out My wish, Please send me your Personal =
Contact.Please,My beloved for further information concerning the release of =
these Funds,reach me on my private mail: mrsmariamassa@aim.com or You may =
call my Private Nurse on the following Number and request that You want to =
speak with me; +44 792 405 0068

Please,due to my present Health Condition,I appeal that You respond as soon =
as You receive this Letter.

Remain Blessed,

Mrs. Mariam Assal.
E-Mail: mrsmariamassa@aim.com
Tel: + 44 792 405 0068
Northern Ireland

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam