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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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 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)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:41:45 +0100
Subject: Attention


Hello Dear,

My name is Mrs.Rosemary C King I am a dying woman who has decided to donate
what I have to charity through you.You may be wondering why I chose you. But
someone has to be chosen.

I am 52 years old and was diagnosed for cancer about 2 years ago,after the
death of my husband who had left me everything he worked for.I have been
touched by the Lord to donate from what I have inherited from my late
husband to charity through you for the good work of humanity,rather than
allow my relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds inappropriately.

I have asked the Lord to forgive me all my sins and I believe he has,because
He is merciful. I will be going in for an operation,and I pray that I
survive the operation.I have decided to WILL/Donate the sum of
$15million(Fifteen Million Dollars with Barclays Bank Accra Ghana)to charity
through you for the good work of the Lord, and to help the motherless,less
privileged and also for the assistance of the widows.At the moment I cannot
take any telephone calls, due to the fact that my relatives are around me
and I have been restricted by my doctor from taking telephone calls because
I deserve all the rest I can get.


Presently,I have informed my consultant about my decision in WILLING this
fund to charity through you.I wish you all the best and may the good Lord
bless you abundantly, and please use the funds well and always extend the
good work to others.If you are interested in carrying out this task,i will
inform my consultant, so that he can arrange the release of the funds to
you. I know i have never met you but my mind tells me to do this,and I hope
you act sincerely.I decided that 35% of this money should be taken by you
from the total sum upon the sucess release of this fund, because I am now
too weak and frigile to do
things myself because of my cancer.

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,
due to the fact that I do not want relatives or family members standing in
the way of my last wish.

thank you,
Rosemary C . King, from Ghana .

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME,ADDRESS,TELEPHONE/FAX
NUMBER ON YOUR REPLY FOR EASY AND IMMEDIATE
COMMUNICATION WITH MY LEGAL CONSULTANT..

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam