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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mrs. Sarah Zainab" <sarah-zainab14@voila.fr>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 20:17:26 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Letter From Mrs. Sarah Zainab Andrew


Dear Sir/Madam,

As you read this, I do not want you to feel sorry for me because I believe everyone will die someday and to the glory of God Almighty.
My name is Mrs. Sarah Zainab Andrew, from Sierra-Leone. I have no child and i am diagnosed with advanced cancer and have been in the hospital for a very long time. It has defied all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have about few months to live, according to the medical experts and am prepaing to go.

I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my business and wealth. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused 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 want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul, so I decided to give alms to charity organizations for aid and development. i have distributed money to some charity organizations and now that my health has been deteriorated so badly and in a stable condition, I cannot do this myself anymore but i need a true servant of God and God fearing person to handle it for me.
I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organizations for aid and development, they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them.

i have Fifteen Million united states dollars ($15,000,000.00) which i have deposited in a safe security firm in Benin Republic, no one is aware of this fund and i deposited it as a consignment. I want to make this last donation before joining my God and i seek for your help and assistance to relocate the funds to your country and distribute it to charity organizations for aid and development in your country or anywhere in the world.

i would want you to keep 20% of the funds to yourself and utilize the rest to charity organization work. if you accepted to assist me, reply me to this confidential email address (mrs-sarah-zainab@voila.fr) as soon as possible and i will give you further details to relocate the funds successful.

My regards and may God bless you
Mrs. Sarah Zainab Andrew

____________________________________________________

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam