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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +27866007749 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • br.frances@pnetmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "frances zuma" <franceszuma3@legwork.com.ng>
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:29:17 +0200
Subject: Very Important Notification


From: Br. Frances Zuma Esq. (For Trustees)
Managing Partner (Sipho Chambers)
PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA
Tell:Fax: +27 86 6007749
Email: br.frances@pnetmail.co.za<http://us.mc584.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=br.frances@pnetmail.co.za>

*NOTIFICATION OF BEQUEST**:*
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Mr. Edwin
Gabriel, I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned
undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address
on the WILL. I wish to notify you that late Mr. Edwin Gabriel made you a
beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Five Million One Hundred
Thousand Dollars (USD$5,100.000.00) to you in the codicil and last testament
to his will. This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real
and true.

Being a widely traveled man, he must have been in contact with you in the
past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends
abroad who wished you good. Mr. Edwin Gabriel until his death was a member
of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical
Engineers. He was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out. His
great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his lifetime. Late Mr.
Edwin Gabriel died on the 16th day of February 2004 at the age of 90 years
and his WILL is now ready for execution. According to him, this money is to
support his Christian activities (May his soul rest with the Lord) and to
help the poor and needy.

Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, Kindly get back to me as soon as
possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no distant
date. Please contact me on this email:
br.frances@pnetmail.co.za<http://us.mc584.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=br.frances@pnetmail.co.za>

Yours in His service,
Frances Zuma Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam