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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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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:
  • ",500,000" (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 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.
  • ellswanson@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Ellen Swanson" <ellen-swanson-16@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <ellswanson@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 07:44:57 -0800
Subject: DEARLY BELOVED.



Dearest in the lord,My name is Mrs. Ellen Swanson. I am a dying woman who has decided to donate what I have to you and your church. I am 63 years old and I was diagnosed with cancer about 9 years ago immediately after the death of my husband, who has left me everything he worked for. I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to the you for the good work of God, rather than allow my relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds in an ungodly way. Please pray that the good Lord forgive me my sins. I have asked God to forgive me and I believe he has because He is a merciful God. I decided to WILL/donate the sum of £6,500,000(Six million Five hundred thousand British Pounds sterling) to you for the good work of the lord, and also to help the motherless and less privileged and also for the assistance of the widows with part of the fund. I cannot take any telephone calls right now due to the fact that my relatives are around me because my health status. The Bank where my funds are will arrange the transfer of the funds once I authorize them to do so and that would be when I hear from you. I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and please use the fund well and always extend the good work to others. Your timely response will be awaited via Email: ellswanson@yahoo.co.uk Regards, Mrs. Ellen Swanson.
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam