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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million 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 widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: <c.pointer58@yahoo.es>
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:04:23 +0600
Subject: A CALL FOR ASISTANCE(CLARA POINTER)

Greetings in the name of God,

I am Mrs. Clara Pointer from Switzerland but leave in France, I am 58 years
old, I am deaf and suffering from a long-time cancer of the breast which
also affected my brain, from all indication my conditions is really
deteriorating and it is quite obvious that, according to my doctors they I
may not live for the next two months, this is because the cancer stage has
gotten to a very bad stage.

I was brought up from a motherless babies home and was married to my late
husband for twenty years without a child, died in a fatal motor accident
Before his death we were true Christians. Since his death I decided not to
re-marry, I sold all my inherited belongings and deposited all the sum of
$8.6million dollars with a Security Company.

Presently, this money is still with them and the management just wrote me
as the true owner to come forward to receive the money because they have
kept it so long or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to
receive it on my behalf since I can not come over because of my illness or
they will get it confisticated.

Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital where I have been undergoing
treatment for cancer of the lungs. I have since lost my ability to talk and
my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live.

It is my last wish to see that this money is invested to any organization
of your choice and distributed each year among the charity organization, the
poor and the motherless babies home where I come from. I want you God
fearing, to also use this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows, I
took this decision, before I rest in peace because my time will soon be up.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the
Security Company.

I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you as the new
beneficiary of my fund. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I
stated here in.

Waiting for your reply.

Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Clara Pointer

Note: Pls reply me through my alternative email address:
{clara_pointer@angelic.com}

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam