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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:
  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.

Fraud email example:

From: Alvaro Villarreal <avmailavmail@medicina.tv.com>
Reply-To: avmail@web2mail.com
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2006 16:06:45 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Kindest Attention:


>From . Mr. Alvaro Villarreal

Kindest Attention:

My name is Mr. Alvaro Villarreal, I am from Portugal . I
have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defied
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 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 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.
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 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 do on earth. So far, I have
Distributed money
to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Somalia 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 Thirty Million United States
Dollars($30,000,000,00) that I have with an Finance
Vaulting Unit
Abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit
and dispatch it to
charity organizations.
N/B:
Kindly note that 35% of this funds must go to the tsunami
victims,60% to other Charity Organization and 5% for your
effort and time. I cannot talk with you on the phone due
to my health situation, as I am using my Lap Top Computer
to communicate with you. You should respond to this e-mail
if you are interested in carrying out this assignment on
my behalf.
God be with you.
Mr. Alvaro Villarreal

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam