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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)
  • "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. )
• This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
  • susancole@plasa.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3asusancole@plasa.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Susan Cole" <s.usancole@fastwebmail.it>
Reply-To: susancole@plasa.com
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 06:06:16 -0700
Subject: My dear friend,


My dear friend,
I am writing you with trust for a project I want you
to undertake on my behalf due to the deterioating ill health (cancer
ailment) which has totally weighed me down over years. When my late husband
was alive he deposited the sum of $15.5 Million which were derived from his
vast estates and investment in capital market with a security company here
in europe.
Recently, my Doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to the
cancerous problems I am suffering from.
Though what bothers me most is the stroke that I have in addition to the
cancer. With this hard reality that has be fallen my family, and me I have
decided to donate this fund to you and wan you to use this gift which comes
from my husbands effort to fund the upkeep of widows, widowers,orphans,
destitute, the down-trodden, physically challenged children, barren-women
and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped financially. It is often
said that blessed is the hand that giveth.
I took this decision because I do not have any child that will inherit this
money and my husband relatives are bourgeois and very wealthy persons and I
do not want my husband hard earned money to be misused or invested into ill
perceived ventures. I do not want a situation where this money will be used
in an ungodly manner, hence the reason for taking this bold decision.
With God all things are possible. I want you to stand as the new
beneficiary to the funds. My happiness is that I lived a life worthy of
emulation. Please always be prayerful for me.Please assure me that you will
act just as I have stated herein.Hope to hear from you soon and God bless
you and members of your family.
Please do send response via my email I can access easily in the
hospital here:susancole@plasa.com <here%3Asusancole@plasa.com>
Yours sincerely,
Susan Cole.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam