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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:

• 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)
  • "god-fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• 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.
  • ritapet101@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: maxreja1018@yahoo.dk
Reply-To: ritapet101@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:38:26 -0500
Subject: MY REGARDS TO YOUR FAMILY

Dear Beloved,

It is by the grace of God that I received Christ,having known the truth; I had no choice than to do what is lawful and
just in the sight of God foreternal life and in the sight of man for witness of God & His Mercies and glory upon my
life.

I am Rita Petrosky,the wife of Mr.Robert Petrosky,both of us, are citizens of Canada.My husband worked with the
Chevron/Texaco in Russia for twenty years and own an oil company before his untimely death in the year 2003.

We were married for ten years without a child. My Husband died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.
Before his death we both got born-again as dedicated Christians. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get a
child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is strongly against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the
sum of £8.5 Million GBP (Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Great Britain Pound Sterling) with a Bank in UK.

Presently, this money is still with the Bank and the management just wrote me as the beneficiary that our account has
been DORMANT and if I, as the beneficiary of the funds, do not re-activate the account; the funds will be CONFISCATED or
I rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my behalf (note that you need to activate this
account) as I can not come over. Presently, I'm in a hospital in Russia where I have been undergoing treatment for
esophageal cancer.

I want a person that is God-fearing who will use this money to fund churches, orphanages and widows propagating the word
of God and to ensure that the house of God is maintained. The Bible made us to understand that blessed is the hand that
giveth.I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my husband's relatives are
not Christians and I don't want my husband's hard earned money to be misused by unbelievers. I don't want a situation
where this money will be used in an ungodly manner. Hence the reason for taking this bold decision. I am not afraid of
death since I know where I am going to.

I know that I am going to be in the bossom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14: says that the Lord will fight my case and I
shall hold my peace. I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my soundless voice and presence
of my husband's relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development.

I await your quick response to this mail as this is my last wish to see this funds transferred before my Death.

Please my beloved for further communication on how we are going to conclude this, reach me on my private mail:
ritapet101@hotmail.com
Remain Blessed

Your Sister in Christ,
Rita Petrosky

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam