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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.

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:
  • "account in your country or any safer place" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +27837107741 (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.
  • mechilladams@hotmail.com
  • 3amechilladams@hotmail.com
  • mecheilladams@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • 3amecheilladams@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "mecheill adams" <mecheilladams89@biz.by>
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:10:34 +0200
Subject: CRYING FOR HELP


FROM: MRS.MECHEILL ADAMS Add: 25 Nelson Mandela Avenue
South Africa
EMAIL:mechilladams@hotmail.com <EMAIL%3Amechilladams@hotmail.com>

My Dear in the Lord, Good Day,

PLEASE KINDLY PARDON ME FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE

Please, kindly pardon me for any inconvenience this letter may cost you
because I know it may come to you as a surprise as we have no previous
correspondence.
Your first reaction to this mail will be total rejection, scare and may be
unbelief, owing largely to the atrocities people committed these days. But
this mail comes from a devastated, sorrowful and e motional lade ned soul
that needs compassion from a kind and good spirited person to wipe away my
tears, perhaps when i am gone beyond this sinful world.

As an international subject, therefore, with due respect and apology, I
want you to handle it very confidentially and with utmost secrecy. I got
your contact as I was searching for helping hand in your country, this is
why I decided to appeal to you directly for assistance because I' have no
relations or friends in your country for help . I am MRS. MECHEILL

ADAMS from Zimbabwe . I am a widow being that I lost my husband last year.
My husband was a serving director of the Cocoa exporting board until his
death .He was assassinated last January by the rebels following the
political uprising.

But before the death of my husband, he anticipated some dangers and so he
deposited the sum of (US$28.3 Million United States Dollars) in the name of
our only son MIKE ADAMS,with the help of reputable security company in south
Africa with the intention of using it to open fertilizer manufacturing
company among other companies in our neighboring country (Swaziland) after
his university education.

On the 15th January 2005, the war veterans and some supporters of (ZANU-PF)
ruling party trooped into our compound and assassinate him (my husband) to
death. Since then, they have been terrorizing my only son, MIKE ADAMS, but
he managed to escape to a neighboring country, South Africa as a political
asylum seeker (refugee). But our position in South Africa does not permit us
to open an account or run any huge financial business. And there is a
serious *Xenophobic *attack on Foreigners here in s outh africa .And its
giving us a major concern now .I want you to do me a favor to receive these
funds to a safe account in your country or any safer place as the
beneficiary.

However, am offering you 25% of the money for your assistance and five 5% is
for expenses while the remaining 70% is for me and my son for investment in
your country.or you can go in to partnership with me for the proper proof
itable investment of the money in your country .Which ever the option you
want, please do notify me in your reply.

I have plans to do investment in your country, like real estate and
industrial production. This is my reason for writing to you. Please if you
are willing to assist me and my only son MIKE ADAMS, please reply
soonest.via my

Email: mecheilladams@hotmail.com or call my only son on this number +27 837
-107-741
Upon your immediate response, I will immediately arrange and send to you all
the informations that will empower your good self in finalizing the
transaction with the Security Company in South Africa.Please kindly forward
to me your phone and fax numbers for easy communication.

Thanks with regards.
MRS.MECHEILLADAMS
Email:mecheilladams@hotmail.com<Email%3Amecheilladams@hotmail.com>
(for the family)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam