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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:
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "2002 zatima" <zatima20001@e-mail.ua>
Reply-To: zatima2008@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 04:52:14 -0700
Subject: My Dearest,


My Dearest,

This mail may come to you as a surprise but be rest assured that this is not
a hoax mail. Greetings in the Name of our GOD.

I am Mrs. ZATIMA MOHAMMED an EGYPTIAN citizen doing my missionary work here
in Cotonou Benin Republic,West Africa. I am a widow to late Dr. Mohammed and
I am 47 years old.

I am suffering from long time cancer of the heart. From all indications, my
condition is really deteriorating and it is obvious that I will not live
much more long according to my doctors.
This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. We could
not have any child when my husband was alife.

My late husband was very wealthy and after his death,I inherited all his
businesses and wealth. As the doctors has advised me that I may not live
long, so I now decided to divide part of this wealth, to distribute to the
development of the church, mosque and orphanage in Africa, America, Asia and
Europe and middle east. I selected you after visiting the website. Moreover,
I prayed over it. I am willing to donate the sum of US$8.5 Million U.S
Dollars to you for the less privilege children.

Please I want you to note that this fund is lying in a Bank and upon my
instruction, the bank will effect the Transfer of the money to your bank
account in your own name. Lastly, I honestly pray that this money when
transferred to you will be used for the said purpose, because I have come to
find out that wealth acquisition without GOD is vanity upon vanity.

I await your urgent reply.

Bye and God Bless,
Mrs.ZATIMA MOHAMMED

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam