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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:

• 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:
  • "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
• 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.
  • deb_williams007@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Deborah Williams" <dewilliams0010@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: deb_williams007@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:13:47 +0000
Subject: REPLY IN GOOD FAITH

Dear Beloved,

 

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am Mrs. Deborah Williams, a widow to late David Williams. I am 57 years old and i am a new Christian convert, suffering from long time cancer of the breast, from all indication my conditions is really deteriorating and it is quite obvious that I won't live more than six months, according to my doctors, this is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. My late husband was killed during the U.S. raid against terrorism in Afghanistan, and during the period of our marriage we could not produce any child. My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth.
 
The doctors has advised me that I may not live for more than six months, so I now decided to divide the part of this wealth, to contribute to the development of the churches in the world. I selected you after visiting web site and I prayed over it. I am willing to donate the sum of US$6.7M Dollars to the less privileged. Please I want you to note that the fund is lying in a security company in Europe.
 
I am offering you 30% of the total funds for your assistant while 60% will be used in all sincerity to fund philanthropic organization, orphanages and the balance of 10% will be sent to me for the preparation of my funeral and off-set my medical bills. I am taking this decision because I don't have any child or devoted relations whose behavior has left much to be desired while I am ill and above all I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly manner.
 
I honestly pray that this money will be used for the said purpose, because I have come to find out that wealth acquisition without Christ is vanity. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you and your family as I await your urgent reply through my alternative email address: deb_williams007@yahoo.co.uk
 
Yours in Christ.

Mrs. Deborah Williams

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam