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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • ",000,000" (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.
• 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.
  • muratarifhelp@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MURAT ARIF" <muratarif12@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2007 18:16:08 -0400
Subject: CHARITY FUNDS

Dear Friend,

I read through your profile and must say i am, truely impressed with all i
see, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because
I believe everyone finds peace in the end. My name is Arif Murat a merchant
of Omani nationality but presently residing in
Europe.I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer .

It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only
about 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 I am 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 this 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 God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would
live my life a different way from how I have lived it.
Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property and
assets to my immediate and extended family
members as well as a few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and
accept my soul so, I have decided to give alms
to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I
do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some
charity organizations in the Oman.

I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and
distribute the money which I have there to charity organization
in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves.
Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to
be contended with what I have left for them.The last of my money which no
one knows of is the huge cash deposit of Eighteen Million
United States Dollars( $18,000,000) that I have with a finance/Security
Company abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit
and dispatche it to charity organizations. I have set aside 20% for you and
for your time.

God be with you

Arif Murat
Private email: muratarifhelp@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam