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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:

• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • vikyel@rediffmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Victoria Ellen" <vickyel2@rediffmail.com>
Date: 18 Feb 2007 00:00:21 -0000
Subject: Please Help Me!


Compliment of the day,

I am sure this mail would be coming to you as a surprise, Well I got your information from a business directory at the British Chamber of Commerce and Industries when I was searching through for a foreigner that will be trusted.

I am mother Victoria Ellen, wife of Late Sir Albert Ellen an Irish citizen who died in the aftermath of the political crisis in Lome, Togo Aged 68.

I have been sick and bedridden; I am infected with cancer as you may know is a terminal disease. Presently, my speech capacity has been seriously impaired.

According to medical experts I will not live long since my ailment has defiled all forms of medical treatment; so I have decided to accept my fate while dedicating the rest of my life to the service of God.

While alive, my husband had set aside some money in the region of USD 24 Million for charity, this is my intention of contacting you, as I would like to engage the services of a foreigner or group of foreigners that would manage this trust fund. It would be known as Vick Ellen Trust Fund and it would be utilized for the needy and down trodden.

I have already made a contact with a legal practitioner in London who would provide all necessary legal backings to this arrangement.

If you are ready to work on this project in good faith and honesty, you should be prepared to spend a good part of your time on it, although I will grant you some financial allowance but the bulk of the money would be at your disposal.

I would like to have a master plan on how you wish to get started. This requires a great deal of honesty.&nbsp; God bless you as you take a decision.&nbsp;

Reach me on this private email address: vikyel@rediffmail.com

I await your earliest response.

Yours sincerely,

Victoria Ellen

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam