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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • ",000,000" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Ahmed Hassan" <hassan141@live.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:04:41 -0500
Subject: IN GOOD FAITH


Dear Beloved,

As you read this, I dont want you to feel sorry for me,
because, I
believe everyone will die someday. My name is AHMED HASSAN a
merchant
in Dubai, in the U.A.E. 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 businessas 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 into 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 have done on earth. So far, I have
distributed money
to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, 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 Twenty One million dollars
$21,000,000,00 that I have with a finance Company abroad.I
will want
you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to
charity
organizations. I have set aside 25% for you and for your
time.

NOTE; IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU REPLY THROUGH MY PRIVATE
EMAIL:ahmedhassan121@live.com

Yours Sincerely
Mr.Ahmed Hassan

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam