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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
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• 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:
  • "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)
  • "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
  • gmrsvictoriaedwards1@yahoo.com.hk

Fraud email example:

From: =?big5?q?Edwards=20Mrs=20Victoria?= <mrsvictoriaedwards1@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:14:49 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: DEAR FRIEND,


§Ú¦³·sªº¹q¶l¦a§}¡I§A²{¥i¹q¶lµ¹§Ú¡Gmrsvictoriaedwards1@yahoo.com.hk



- DEAR BELOVETH, I AM MRS VICTORIA, A WIDOW TO LATE GEORGE EDWARDS I AM 56 YEARS OLD, I AM NOW A NEW CHRISTIAN CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE BREAST, FROM ALL INDICATION MY CONDITIONS IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT I WON LIVE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS AS I AM NOW AM IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS, THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANER STAGE HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE. MY LATE HUSBAND WAS KILLED DURING THE U.S. RAID AGAINST TERRORISM IN AFGHANISTAN, AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE COULDT PRODUCE ANY CHILD.MY LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS DEATH, I INHERITED ALL HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH. THE DOCTORS HAS ADVISED ME THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, SO I NOW DECIDED TO DEVIDE THE PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHRISTIANITY IN AFRICA, AMERICA ASIA,AND EUROPE. I VISITING THE SITE AND I PRAYED OVER IT THAT GOD WILL DIRECT ME TO SOMEONE THAT IS GOD FEARING THAT WILL ASSIST ME TO CLAIM THIS MY FUND,I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF $12M MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS, TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE THAT FUND IS LYING IN A BANK AND UPON MY INSTRUCTION, MY ATTORNEY, WHO PRESENTLY IN AFRICA DISTRIBUTING RELIEF MATERIALS TO VICTIMS OF BOMBLAST IN SIERRA-LEONE, WILL FILE IN AN APPLICATION FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE MONEY IN YOUR NAME.LASTLY, I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN TRANSFERRED WILL BE SURE FOR THE SAID PURPOSE, BECAUSE I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT GOD IS VANITY. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. I AWAIT URGENT REPLY. GOD BLESS YOU, MRS.VICTORIA EDWARDS .

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam