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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 beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "stay blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" 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.
  • james.david@indiatimes.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "james david" <james.david604@gmail.com>
Reply-To: james.david@indiatimes.com
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 16:09:06 +0100
Subject: ...regarding james David 08/0708


Dear Beloved,

I am James David, A United Arab Emirate national I have been diagnosed
with esophageal cancer. It has defiled all forms of medical treatment,
and right now I have only about a few months to live. I am very
rich, but was never generous, I have given most of my assets to my
immediate family members. I have decided to give alms to charity
organizations. I cannot do this myself anymore because of my health. I
once asked members of my family to give some money to charity
organizations, they refused and kept the money for personal
enrichment. I have a huge cash deposit of Thirteen Million dollars with
a finance institution abroad. I will want you to help me collect this
deposit and dispatch it to charity organizations. You will take out 20%
of this funds for your assistance.

The fund is safe and kept in a financial institution in Europe and I
have been using the institution for over 13yrs now. Because of the
selfish attitude of my immediate relative over mismanagement of my
fund, i have decided to look for a foreigner and a good minded
person. As i do not have any use for such money myself, at least not
in my present age and state of health. I will be going to the hospital
anytime soon for a major operations. Except it pleases God, the chance
of my survival is slim. I have been led by the spirit to contact you
having the hope that you will handle this project well to the glory of
God. I wait for your response to accept this offer to show tenderness,
love and mercy to the less privileged people in your country & other
places around the globe as directed by the spirit of God in you.
Please reply to james.david@indiatimes.com for confidentiality.

Stay Blessed.

James David

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam