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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:

• 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:
  • "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (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 "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.
  • sarah.estradafamily@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "" <solar.brno@iol.cz>
Reply-To: sarah.estradafamily@gmail.com
Date: Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:54:23 GMT
Subject: Donation From Sarah Estrada




#4 Old Church Street
Maekins Reldwin Rd
Chelsea, HG62 BF. UK

Dear Beloved,

I seek your indulgence to solicit for your assistance concerning the content of my mail, although I am not comfortable discussing it this means due to lots of unsolicited mails on the internet presently, but I have no other medium to do so right now since the situation of my health is deteriorating.

My name is Mrs Sarah Estrada I got your information while browsing through Internet in search for a reliable/honest person who could be of help, I am a dying woman who has decided to donate what I have to you/Organization. I am 65 years old and I was diagnosed for cancer about 5years ago, immediately after the death of my husband, who had left me everything he worked for. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to you for the good work of God than allow my relatives to use my husband hard-earned funds ungodly.Please pray that the good Lord forgive me my sins. I have asked God to forgive me and I believe he has because He is a merciful God.

I am married to Pilot David Estrada an English Pilot who is dead.When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of 9.5 Million Pounds Sterling which were derived from his vast estates and investment in capital market with a security company here in UK.Presently,this money is still with the bank.My Doctor told me that I have limited days to live due to the cancerous problems I am suffering from. I have decided to donate this fund to you and want you to use this gift which comes from my husbands effort to fund the upkeep of widows, widowers, orphans,destitute, the down-trodden, physically challenged children,barren-women and persons who prove to be genuinely handicapped financially.

NB: I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished, as I don't want anything that will jeopardize my last wish. And Also I will be contacting with you by email, as I don't want my relation or anybody to know because they are always around me.I would prefer you contact me on my most private and confidencial email address (sarah.estradafamily@gmail.com or sarahestradafamily@live.com)

Thanks and God bless.
Mrs Sarah Estrada

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam