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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
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• 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:
  • "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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Brent Lewis <lu_brent2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <brentlewisfolder@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 11:57:21 +0000
Subject: ATTN: DEAREST BELOVED



NAME: BRENT LEWISCOUNTRY: NIGERIAATTN: BELOVED,GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.I AM MR BRENT LEWIS A CITIZEN OF THE REPUBLIC OF NETHERLAND BUT PRESNTLY IN NIGERIA WORKING FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,I AM 50 YEARS OLD, I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTAIN ONVERT,SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE HEART, FROM ALLINDICATION MY CONDITIONS IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WON´T LIVE MORE THAN 1 YEAR, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS,THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE.MY LATE WIFE DIED LAST FIVE YEARS,AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE COULD´NT PRODUCE ANY CHILD. MY LATE WIFE WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HER DEATH,I INHERITED ALL HER BUSINESS AND WEALTH.THE DOCTORS HAS ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN 1 YEAR,SO I NOW DECIDED TO DEVIDE THE PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH IN AFRICA, AMERICA ASIA,AND EUROPE.I SELECTED YOU AFTER VISITING THE WEBSITE AND I PRAYED OVER IT.I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $25,000.000.00U.USD( TWENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND IS LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN NIGERIA. ONCE I HEAR FROM YOU, I WILL FORWARD TO YOU ALL THE INFORMATIONS YOU WILL USE TO GET HER FUND RELEASED FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY AND TO BE TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT.I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE SURE FOR THE SAID PURPOSE, 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 FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMTION SO I CAN FORWARD IT TO MY LATES WIFE LAWYER WHO IS GOING TO HANDLE THE TRANSACTION WITH YOU AND LEAD,ADVICE YOU ON HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND GET THIS FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT WITHOUT THE BRIDGE OF LAW.FULL NAME :..........................FULL CONTACT ADDRESS.................NAME OF COMPANY :....................COMPANY ADDRESS:.....................POSITION:............................MARITAL STATUS :.....................RELIGION:............................SEX:................................PRIVATE FAX NO.......................PRIVATE PHONE NO:....................PLEASE SEND ALL REPLY TO MY ALTERNATIVE PRIVATE EMAIL FOR QUICK RESPONSE ON:brentlewisfolder@yahoo.comI AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY.YOUR BROTHER IN CHRIST.MR BRENT LEWIS
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam