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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: "Hawks Carina" <carinahawks1@student.com>
Reply-To: iduroyston@yahoo.es
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2008 14:40:59 -0500
Subject: Hello Dear.


Hello Dear.

I am Mrs Idu Royston from Netherlands,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 have advised me that 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 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 for keeping
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 get
it confisticated.

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 organisation 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 herein. Hoping to
hearing from you soon.
Waiting for your reply
Yours in Christ
Mrs Idu Royston

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam