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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:
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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.
• 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.
  • williamsimon_25@yahoo.com.cn (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: williamsimon@zipmail.com.br
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 01:39:33 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Hello?=

Dear beloved
As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry forme, because, I believe
everyone will die someday.
My name is william simon I a merchant of Omani nationality.I have been diagnosed
with Esophageal cancer .
It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only
about a few months to live, according to medical experts.I have not particularly
lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone(not even myself)but
my business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile
to people and only focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared
for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life
than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world.I believe when
God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life
a different way from how I have lived it. Now that God has called me, I
have willed and given most of my property and assets 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 so, I have decided to give alms to charity
organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth.
So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the Oman,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 close one of my
accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization
in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves.
Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with
what I have left for them.The last of my money which no one knows of is
the huge cash deposit of fifteen million seven hundred thousand dollars
15.7 million US that I have with a finance/Security Company abroad. I will
want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatche it to charity organizations.I
have set aside 20% for you and for your time.Please contact me through my
private email;williamsimon_25@yahoo.com.cn
God be with you.
william simon

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam