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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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 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)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Fred Lauer <fdlauers4@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <fredlauer@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2007 16:42:14 +0000
Subject: THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.



Dear Friend,
Sequel to the first email that I sent to your email address which subsequently returned as undelivered,I hereby contact you again on the same issue.Please find time to read and respond to this email of mine.I do not want you to get angry over this mail but I want you to look at it from the humanitarian side of life ..I strongly believe that after reading this mail,you will be in a better position to know and carryout my sole aim here based on your position .
My name is Fred Lauer , a merchant in Dubai, in the U.A.E.I have been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer which was discovered very late due to my laxity in caring for my health. This sickness has defiled all forms of medicine,and right now I have only a few months to live according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life so well,as I never really cared for anyone not even myself but my business. Though very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all these as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when I am given a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it. Now that I know I have little or no time left, I have willed and given most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members and as well as a few close friends. I want to obtain mercy when I die and so, I have decided to give alms to charity organizations and give succor and comfort to the less privileged in our society, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the proceeds but the result I got was not encouraging at all.So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I want to use the last of what I have to reach out to charity organizations and to the less privileged in Bulgaria ,Pakistan,the US and other parts of the World ,hence the need for someone whom I can trust and confide in.I cannot use my brothers again because twice I have tried to use them and twice they refused and kept the money to themselves,hence I do not trust them anymore and I cannot use them again. The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of twenty three million US dollars that I have with a Security Company in Europe for safe keeping. I want you to help me collect this deposit and disburse it to some charity organizations and to the less privileged as I mentioned above. send me a mail to indicate if you will assist me in this noble course but please search your conscience very well because if you know you cannot give out the funds to charity as I want,inform me on time so that I can go my way. I have set aside 15% for you for your time and patience. I await to hear from you, may God be with you and your entire family. Fred Lauer

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam