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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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 - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "joy williams" <joy_williamsb5@latinmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:32:48 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: BELOVED


BELOVED,=20
GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. I AM MRS JOY WILLIAMS F=
ROM SWITZERLAND, A WIDOW TO LATE TOM WILLIAMS I AM 55 YEARS OLD, I AM N=
OW A NEW CHRISTAIN CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE BREA=
ST, FROM ALL INDICATION MY CONDITIONS IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS=
QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WON LIVE MORE THAN 2 MONTHS, ACCORDING TO MY DOCT=
ORS,=20

THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE.MY LATE =
HUSBAND DIED LAST FIVE YEARS,AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE C=
OULD T PRODUCE ANY CHILD.MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS=
DEATH, I INHERITED ALL HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH. THE DOCTORS HAS ADVISE=
D ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN 2 MONTHS, SO I NOW DECIDED TO DE=
VIDE THE PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE C=
HURCH IN AFRICA,=20

AMERICA ASIA,AND EUROPE. I SELECTED YOU AFTER VISITING THE WEBSITE AND =
I PRAYED OVER IT. I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $5,000.000.00U.USD(=
FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I W=
ANT YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND IS LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN ABIDJAN. ON=
CE I HEAR FROM YOU,=20

I WILL FORWARD TO YOU ALL THE INFORMATIONS YOU WILL USE TO GET THIS FUN=
D RELEASED FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY AND TO BE TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCO=
UNT. I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT W=
ILL BE SURE FOR THE SAID PURPOSE,=20

BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST =
IS VANITY. MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELL=
OWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.=20

I AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY.=20

YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST.=20

MRS JOY WILLIAMS,=20

Las nuevas aventuras de Harry Potter, a un clic! http://www.starmedia.c=
om/entretenimiento/especiales/novedades.html

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam