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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "million united states 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.
  • vikyel@rediffmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Victoria Ellen" <vickyel17@rediffmail.com>
Date: 18 Feb 2007 10:21:35 -0000
Subject: Please Read Me!


Compliment of the day,&nbsp;I am sure this mail would be coming to you as a surprise; well I am mother Victoria Ellen, wife of Late Sir Albert Ellen an Irish citizen who died in the aftermath of the political crisis in Lome, Togo Aged 68, I got your information from a business directory at the British Chamber of Commerce and Industries when I was searching through for a foreigner that will be trusted. &nbsp;I have been sick and bedridden; I am infected with cancer as you may know is a terminal disease. Presently, my speech capacity has been seriously impaired.

As you read this, I do not want you to feel sorry for me, because, I believe everyone will die someday because according to medical experts I will not live long since my ailment has defiled all forms of medical treatment; so I have decided to accept my fate while dedicating the rest of my life to the service of God by rendering service to humanity on behalf of my husband whom I will be joining shortly.&nbsp;While alive, my husband and I have not particularly lived our life so well, as we never really cared for anyone (not even ourselves) but business. Though we were very rich but never generous, always hostile to people and only focused on business as that was the only thing we 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. Wherever my husband is I know he !
will be happy with my decisions

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 have also distributed money to some charity organizations in the Algeria, Sudan,&nbsp;&nbsp; India, Sierra Leone, Cambodia and Malaysia.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself&nbsp;&nbsp; any more.

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 our money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of Twenty Four Million United States Dollars ($24,000,000.00); it is my intention for contacting you, as I would like to engage the services of a foreigner or group of foreigners that would manage this trust fund. It would be known as Vick Albert Ellen Trust Fund and it would be utilized for the needy and down trodden. &nbsp;I want to believe that you will be capable of handling this task for me, if yes I do advise that you email me back only at vikyel@rediffmail.com for privacy)&nbsp;
I have already made a contact with a legal practitioner in London who would provide all necessary legal backings to this arrangement.&nbsp;If you are ready to work on this project in good faith and honesty, you should be prepared to spend a good part of your time on it, although I will grant you some financial allowance but the bulk of the money would be at your disposal. &nbsp;I would like to have a master plan on how you wish to get started. This requires a great deal of honesty.&nbsp; God bless you as you take a decision.&nbsp; &nbsp;I await your earliest response. &nbsp;Yours sincerely,&nbsp;&nbsp;Victoria Ellen

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam