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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: lucy haafkens <jhaafkenz@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2006 11:56:20 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Please read(urgent)


Dear Friend,
Good day I am the above named person from Netherlands, I am married to Dr.Haafkens who worked with NETHERLAND Embassy in Nigeria for eleven years before he died in the year 2000.We were married for twenty seven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both born again Christians.

When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of (Fourteen Million six hundred thousand U.S. Dollars) with a security company abroad, this money is still with the company and the management just wrote me as the beneficiary to come forward to receive the money or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf, if I cannot come over.
Presently, I'm with my laptop in a hospital (UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL IDIARABA LAGOS) where I have been undergoing treatment for cancer of the lungs. I have since lost my ability to talk and my doctors have told me that I have only a few months to live. It is my last wish to see this money distributed to charity organizations. Because relatives and friends have plundered so much of my wealth since my illness, I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this huge responsibility to any of them.
Please, I beg you in the name of God to help me collect the deposit from the company and distribute it accordingly. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the security company. I will Use your name as the owner of the money to issue the authorization letter that will prove you as the new beneficiary of this fund. I want you and your family to always pray for me because the Lord is my shepherd.

My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Who ever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in good spirit and truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life. Any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for another person for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I stated herein. Hoping to hear from you soon.
Yours in Christ,

Mrs. Lucy Haafkens.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam