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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Gloria Caldwell" <gloriacaldwell@klikni.cz>
Reply-To: mgloriacaldwell01@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 13:41:36 -0700
Subject: Read carefully my beloved.


Read carefully my beloved.

Greeting in the name of our lord Jesus Christ. I am Mrs Gloria Caldwell, a
widow to late Richard Caldwell. I am 58 years old, i am now a new Christian
convert, suffering from long time cancer of the breast, from all indication
my conditions is really deteriorating and It is quite obvious that I won't
live more than six months, according to my doctors, this is because the
cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage.

My late husband was killed during the war against rebels in cote d'ivoire,
and during the period of our marriage we couldn't produce any child. My late
husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business
and wealth. The doctors has advised me that i may not live for more than
six months, so I now decided to divide the part of this wealth, to
contribute to the development of the church in America Asia, and Europe. I
selected you after visiting web site and i prayed over it.

I am willing to donate the sum of $3.2Million U.S dollars, to the less
privileged. Please I want you to note that this fund is lying in a bank in
Abidjan cote d'ivoire.I honestly pray that this money when transferred will
be sure for the said purpose, because I have come to find out that wealth
acquisition without Christ is vanity.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the Bank.
And I will also issue you a letter of authority, which will prove that you
are the new beneficiary of my funds. Please assure me that you will act
accordingly as i stated herein. hope to hear from You soonest. May the
grace of our lord Jesus the love of god and the fellowship of god be with
you and your family I await your urgent reply.

Yours in Christ.
Dr.Smith For
Mrs.Gloria Caldwel

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam