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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "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. )
  • "million united states 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "John Smith" <mrjohnsmith010@torba.com>
Reply-To: jsmith200863@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 14:00:53 -0700
Subject: DEAR BELOVED.


DEAR BELOVED.

GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

I AM MR. JOHN SMITH. PRESENTLY IN UK WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT, I AM 50
YEARS OLD, I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTIAN CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER
, FROM ALL INDICATION MY CONDITIONS IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE
OBVIOUS THAT I WON'T LIVE MORE THAN ONE YEAR, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS, THIS
IS BECAUSE THE CANCER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE,MY LATE WIFE DIED
LAST FIVE YEAR,AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE COULD'NT PRODUCE ANY
CHILD.MY LATE WIFE WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HER DEATH, I INHERITED ALL HER
BUSINESS AND WEALTH.

THE DOCTORS HAS ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR, SO I
NOW DECIDED TO DIVIDE THE PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH IN AFRICA, AMERICA,ASIA,AND EUROPE. I SELECTED YOU
AFTER VISITING THE WEBSITE AND I PRAYED OVER IT.

I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $25,000,000,00,USD( TWENTY FIVE MILLION
UNITED STATES DOLLARS) TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE
THAT THIS FUND IS LYING IN A SECURITY COMPANY IN LONDON,UK. ONCE I HEAR FROM
YOU, I WILL FORWARD TO YOU ALL THE INFORMATION YOU WILL USE TO GET HER FUND
RELEASED FROM THE SECURITY COMPANY AND TO BE TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE
SURE FOR THE SAID PURPOSE, BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH
ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY. MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS THE
LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION SO I CAN FORWARD IT TO MY
LATE WIFE LAWYER WHO IS GOING TO HANDLE THE TRANSACTION WITH YOU AND LEAD,
ADVICE YOU ON HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND GET THIS FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT
WITHOUT THE BRIDGE OF LAW.

NAME : ................................................
CONTACT ADDRESS:.........................................
OCCUPATION:..................................................
POSITION:........................................................
MARITAL STATUS :........................................
SEX:................................................................
AGE:..............................................................
PRIVATE FAX NO:......................................
PRIVATE PHONE NO:...................................

I AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY.

YOUR BROTHER IN CHRIST.

MR. JOHN SMITH

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam