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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • mrssthelmasmith@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Thelma Smith <mrsthelmasmith21@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrssthelmasmith@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:15:34 +0000
Subject: DID YOU GET MY MAIL?



Dear Sir/Madam,
With due respect, trust and humility I write this letter to you seeking your help and assistance though it is difficult since we have not met before. I believed that you are capable and reliable in handling this urgent international transaction of this sort. For clarity, I am MRS.THELMA SMITH, the wife of COMRADE BORDER SMITH, the Zimbabwean former Minister for youth & Gender Equality who is also a businessman and politician in the Zimbabwean political arena.
My husband was the famous politician who stood firmly against President Mugabe's idea of continuos fight in Democratic Republic of Congo and my husband also stood against seizure of white firms and the distribution of it to the blacks without compensation to the owners. Because of my husband incerity he was killed on the 14th April 2001 by a planned motor accident along Mashonaland in Western Mashona province of Zimbabwe, the planners of the accident are said to be dissidents soldiers occurred suspected to have the backing of the government and president Mugabe. Sir, when this accident occurred my husband did not die on the spot rather he was rushed to Harare hospital by unknown soldiers and my husband managed to sneak a written message to us, explaining his condition concerning the fund he deposited in oversees in my name which amount US$32.5M {Thirty Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars} and other vital documents which he kept in care of our family lawyer.
This fund was meant for his political campaign for the year 2002 election bid.Regarding the unfortunate incident, he instructed me to leave the country for safety and i relocated to Australia immediately for my safety.He further explained in his letter that the fund is in a reliable and trustworthy bank in oversees who help to keep the fund safely. Be informed that the original documents of deposit are kept intact with our family lawyer and shall be given to you with the particulars of the bank for confirmation. Based on the country Law, which bears asylum eeker/refugee like us not to operate a bank account that exceed US$2000 and the fear of money now raising eyebrow here in zimbabwean.
I decided to write you with the notion seeking your kind assistance to help me and claim the fund on my behalf from the bank oversees as the beneficiary and help lodge the funds in your nominated bank account for safety purpose. I want to assure you also that this transaction is 100% risk free as no other person knows about this fund apart from our family lawyer and I. Sir, as for your reward towards the assistance i have agreed to give you 30% of the total fund. I planned to invest the rest of the money in your country under your guidance on a lucrative business. If you are willing to help me try as much as possible to reach me with this email:mrssthelmasmith@yahoo.com to enable us proceed in earnest towards concluding all transaction. Please bear in mind that our lives depend on this fund and we do hope that this money will be safe when finally transferred into your account.Meanwhile, i shall come overthere as soon as you receive the fund into your account.
I look for ward to hearing from you soon. Mrs.Thelma smith. email:mrssthelmasmith@yahoo.com
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam