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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "hundred thousand u.s 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)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" 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.
  • saramillerz@aol.com

Fraud email example:

From: "MS. SARA MILLER."<saramillerz@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:01:32 +0200
Subject: Re: Seeking Your Assistance/Cooperation.

Greetings .

As you read this, don't feel sorry for me, because it is the destiny of everyman to die someday. I am Ms. SARA MILLER, Spanish Nationality by birth and a business merchant based in Spain. I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about few months to live, according to medical experts. I regret that I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even myself), but my trade. Though I am very well to do, I was never open handed; I was always hostile to people and regarded them like they never had hopes of becoming as successful as myself. Now I know that there is a lot more to life than just prosperity.

I believe that when I am given a second chance to come to this world, I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it. Now that death is eminent, I have willed and given most of my belonging to my immediate and extended family members, as well as a few close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul. Hence I have decided to support charity work and Church; this is what I want to be remembered for. So far, I have been able to reach out to a few charity organizations in the Singapore,China, Algeria and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore.

I once asked members of my family to aid me in giving of alms to those organizations catering for the less privileged in Bulgaria and Pakistan; they refused and kept the resources to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contempted with what I have left for them. The last of my belonging which no one knows of, is the deposit of (Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S Dollars) that I have in a safe keeping company abroad, which I will want you to secure and bestow to charity organizations and Church. Please do reply me urgent with this email address: saramillerz@aol.com so i could give you the full details about the funds.


God be with you.

MS: SARA MILLER.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam