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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "liberia" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a orphan 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.
  • godswillalice2000@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: "alice godswill" <alice_godswill25@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 09:34:46 +0000
Subject: PLS, HELP ME AND MY SON OUT.

PLEASE ASSIST THE NEEDY. I PRAY YOU SHOULD ASSIST US WITH GODLY MIND.I AM
MRS. ALICE GODSWILL FROM LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA. PRESENTLY, I AND MY SON ARE
GOING THROUGH REAL STRESS AND HARDSHIP IN REFUGEE CAMP IN GHANA.
I AM THE WIFE OF LATE WEAH GODSWILL, MY HUSBAND WAS A MAJOR DIAMOND/GOLD
MERCHANT IN LIBERIA. DUE TO THE POLITICAL CRISIS AND CIVIL DISORDER IN
LIBERIA, HE DECIDED TO RELOCATE TO GHANA THEN LATER TO THAILAND TO CONTINUE
WITH HIS BUSINESS. ON HIS WAY OUT OF LIBERIA, THEIR VEHICLE WAS ATTACKED BY
REBEL TROOPS, IN THE PROCESS TWO OF MY DAUGTHERS DIED ON THE SPOT WHILE MY
HUSBAND WAS SHOT BUT HE WAS RESCUED AND TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT BY
U.N PEACE KEEPING FORCE. UNFORTUNATELY, MY HUSBAND LATER DIED IN THE
HOSPITAL.
HOWEVER, BEFORE HE DIED, HE REVEALED TO ME AND MY SON THAT HE DEPOSITED
BOXES CONTAINING $8 MILLLION U.S DOLLARS WITH A SECURITY COMPANY IN GHANA
FOR SAFE KEEPING.
ACCORDING TO HIM, THE ONLY PERSON(S) THAT CAN HAVE CLAIM TO THE BOXES IS
HIMSELF OR HIS FOREIGN ESTATE BENEFICIARY HENCE,WE NEED YOU ASSISTANCE.
ALSO, THE CONTENT OF THE BOXES WERE NOT DISCLOSED TO THE SECURITY COMPANY
FOR SECURITY REASONS.HOWEVER, WE (I AND MY SON) WANT YOU TO ASSIST US AS MY
LATE HUSBAND FOREIGN ESTATE BENEFICIARY TO NOTIFY THE SECURITY COMPANY FOR
THE CLAIMS. ALSO, FOR YOU TO LECTURE US ON HOW BEST WE CAN INVEST THIS FUNDS
IN YOUR COUNTRY. BECAUSE MY HUSBAND TOLD US BEFORE HE DIED THAT IT IS
DANGEROUS TO INVEST THIS FUNDS IN AFRICA DUE TO POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC
INSTABILITY. HENCE WE PROPOSE INVESTING THE FUNDS IN YOUR COUNTRY WITH YOUR
ASSISTANCE.
FOR YOUR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, I AND MY SON HAVE AGREED TO OFFER YOU SOME
PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE MONEY BASE ON OUR NEGOTIATION WITH
YOU. FURTHERMORE, WE HAVE ALL THE VITAL DOCUMENTS COVERING THE DEPOSITE AND
THE OWNERSHIP OF THE BOXES. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEND YOUR FAX/TELEPHONE
NUMBER TO US AND ALSO CONTACT US THROUGH THE BELOW E-MAIL ADDRESS:
godswillalice2000@yahoo.co.uk

BEST REGARDS.
MRS. ALICE GODSWILL. (FOR THE FAMILY).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam