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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
  (+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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447031842443 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Patrick Thompson <patrickthompson1954@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2006 20:05:06 +0200
Subject: My Wish to Charitable Organisation


Dear friend,

As you read this, I do not want you to feel sorry for me, because I believe everyone will die someday.

My name is Patrick Thompson a merchant in London, United Kingdom and I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and have been in the hospital for a very long time.My illness has defied all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have a few months to live according to the medical experts.I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my business and wealth.

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 that if I were given a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it till date. Now that I do not have that option, I have willed and shared most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members. 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 and I have also distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.K, Algeria and Malaysia but now that my health has been 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 but they ended up keeping 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 cash deposit of Eighteen Million United States Dollars ($18.000.000) which I kept in a bank and I would want you to help me to distribute it to charity organizations in your country.

I would want you to keep 10% of the funds for yourself and family and share the rest to charity organizations in your country.Please reply this email as soon as possible even if you are not capable to handle this transaction on my behalf.I have appointed an attorney who will assist you in the transfer of this money into your account and he will also undertake the responsibilty of your credibility before I give the final instruction.

You may contact me through +447031842443.

My regards and Love to you and your family members as I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you in anticipation.

Patrick Thompson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam