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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:
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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:
  • "to effect the transfer to your account" (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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Amberth Israel" <amberthisrael16@telegraf.by>
Reply-To: amberthisrael@live.com
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 22:17:09 +0200
Subject: May God Bless You.


Dear in Christ,

May the peace and blessing of the Lord be with you and your family. You
Could be surprised why i picked you. But someone has to do it.

I am Mrs. Amberth Israel from U.S.A, I am married to Deacon Larry Israel
who is from the french speaking colony of Ivory Coast and until his death
served as an Archdeacon in the St. James Archdeaconry in Ivory Coast West
Africa for twelve years.

We were married for many years without a child. He died after a brief
illness that lasted for only Eight days. Before his death we were both born
again Christian. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a child
outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against.

When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $(11.8 Million
) Eleven million Eight hundred thousand Dollars in one of the famous Bank
here in Abidjan Ivory Coast. Recently, my Doctor told me that I would not
last for the next Eight months due to cancer problem.

Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to you so that you
will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want you to
use this fund for orphanages, widows, Charity Services and propagating the
word of God and to endeavor that the house of God is maintained.

The Bible made us to understand that "Blessed is the hand that giveth". I
took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this
money and it was the vow that i and my late husband made before God to use
the fund to the Glory of God and service to humanity.

With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall
give you the contact informations of the Bank manager for him to effect the
transfer to your account.

Please get back to me as soon as possible so that i can send you the vital
informations for the transfer. And i want you to assure me that you will act
accordingly as I Stated herein.

Hoping to receive your reply.

Remain blessed in the Lord.
Your Sister In Christ,
Mrs. Amberth Israel.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam