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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:
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "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.
  • mrs_yvette_madonne4210k@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: mr_yvette_madonne1k@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:39:04 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT ASSISTANCE TO ....M.D


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: mrs_yvette_madonne4210k@yahoo.com



- Good day,I am Mrs Yvette Madonne,58 years old deaf and suffering from cancer of the breast which affected my brain. My doctors advised me that i may not live for the next six months because, the cancer stage has gotten to a bad stage.I was brought up from a motherless babies home and was married to my late husband for twenty years without a children,who died in a ghastly motor accident.Before his death we were true christian. Since his death I decided not to re-marry,l sold all my inherited belongings and deposited the sum of $9.6 Million with the security & finance company.Presently,this money is with the security company and the management just wrote me as the true owner to come forward to receive the money for keeping it so long or rather find somebody to receive it on my behalf since I can not come over because of my illness or they get confisticated. Presently,I'm with my laptop in an hospital where I have been undergoing treatment for cancer of the lungs.I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live. It is my last wish to see that this money is invested to any organisation of your choice and distributed each year among the charity organization,the poor and the motherless babies home around the world.I want you as a God fearing person,to also use this money to fund Churches,orphanages and widows and for investment purposes in your country,I took this decision,before I rest in peace because my time will soon be up.Below are your information I will need to send to the institute for them to issue the payment in your name:FIRST AND LAST NAME:FULL POSTAL ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE:AGE:OCCUPATION:As soon as I receive your reply I shall contact the security company. Kindly reply via secured email Hoping to hearing from you soon.Waiting for your reply Mrs Yvette Madonne

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam