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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • hiltonwest@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Jennifer Wilson" <hiltonwest@netscape.net>
Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2006 03:09:16 -0500
Subject: PLEASE ASSIST

Urgent Assistance
My name is Jennifer Wilson i am a dying woman who have decided to donate
what i have to you/ church. I am 54 years old and i was diagnosed for cancer
for about 3 years ago, immediately after the death of my husband who lived
all his life in America, who has left me everything he worked for.
I have been touched by God to donate from what i have inherited from my
late husband for the good work of God, rather than allow my relatives to use
my husband hard earned funds ungodly. Please pray that the good Lord forgive
me my sins. I have asked God to forgive me and i believe he has because He
is a merciful God. I will be going in for an operation in less than one
hour.

I decided to WILL/donate the sum of $7,500,000 (Seven million five hundred
thousand dollars) to you for the good work of the lord, and also to help the
motherless and less privilege and also for the assistance of the widows
according to (JAMES 1:27).

At the moment i cannot take any telephone calls right now due to the fact
that my relatives are around me and my health status. I have adjusted my
WILL and my lawyer is aware i have changed my will you and he will arrange
the transfer of the funds from my account to 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. Contact
my lawyer in the Netherlands with this specified email below and his
contact:

Email: hiltonwest@netscape.net
Name: Barrister Johnson Briggs

And tell him that i have WILLED ($7,500,000.00) to you and i have also
notified him that i am WILLING that amount to you for a specific and good
work. I know i don't know you but i have been directed to do this. Thanks
and God bless.

NB: 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. And Also I will be contacting with you by email as I don't want my
relation or anybody to know because they are always around me.

Regards,
Jennifer Wilson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam