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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:
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: working4thelord1@live.com
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 21:46:52 -0800
Subject: Dear Beloveth in Christ, Kindly help me with my plead.


*Dear Beloveth in Christ,

I greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I am Mrs.
Sandra Ford, a widow I am 62 years old suffering from cancer of the breast,
My husband and my only son were killed two years ago during the UK terrorist
Attack here in London years back.

My condition is serious and according to my doctor, he said it is obvious
that I may not survive. I have some funds that my late husband WILLED to me
in cash; the sum of $7,500,000.00 United States of American Dollars.

I packaged it in consignments and deposited it with a finance House here in
UK. After my prayers, I was divinely led to search a lovely site in the
Internet, I found your email address and I decided to contact you, to use
this fund for the expansion of the kingdom of God before anything could
happen to me. Therefore child of God, if you are honest and faithful enough
to use this fund strictly for God's work, then respond back to me
immediately for the details on how to get the fund.

Yours in the Lord,
Mrs. Sandra Ford. *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam