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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:
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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" 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.
  • john_spencer11@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN SPENCER" <emailljohn_sp1@myway.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: john_spencer11@myway.com
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 03:38:36 +0000
Subject: BEFORE I DIE

Dear friend,

This letter may come to you as a surprise due to the fact that we have not yet met.
I have to say that I have no intentions of causing you any pains. My name is Mr.John
Spencer,am merchant in London,taking treatment in London. now I have been diagnosed
with prostate and esophageal cancer that was discovered very late due to lack of
caring for my health. It has defiled all form of medicine 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 focus 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 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 focus 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.

ou can contact me through this email address:john_spencer11@myway.com

Be blessed my beloved,

John L. Spencer

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam