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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "million 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)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "mrs maria fernandez" <mrsmaria_fernandez@klikni.cz>
Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 13:29:07 +0000
Subject: GREETINGS, God has chosen you!!!


Dear Beloved One,

Greetings in the name of God,Pls let this not sound strange to you for my
only surviving lawyer who would have done this died early this year. I
prayed and got you email id from your countrys christian guestbook which i
have been with my late huband and liked to visit once more if God will in
his infinite mercies.

I am Mrs. Maria Fernandez from Canada,I am 58 years old,i am deaff and
suffering from a long time cancer of the breast which also affected my
brain, from all indication my conditions is really deteriorating and it is
quite obvious that, according to my doctors they have advised me that i may
not live for the next two months, this is because the cancer stage has
gotten to a very bad stage. I was brought up from a motherless babies home
was married to my late husband for twenty years without a child ,my husband
died in a fatal motor accident Before his death we were true Christians.
Since his death I decided not to re-marry,I sold all my inherited belongings
and deposited all the Sum of $10Million Dollars with First Inland Bank.

Presently, this money is still with them and the management just wrote me as
the true owner to come forward to receive the money for keeping it so long
or rather issue a letter of authorization to somebody to receive it on my
behalf since I can not come over because of my illness or they get it
confisticated.

Presently,i'm with my laptop here in a hospital here in london where I have
been undergoing treatment for cancer of the lungs. My doctors have told me
that I have only a few months to live.It is my last wish to see that this
money is invested to any organisation of your choice and distributed each
year among the charity organization,the poor and the motherless babies home.
I want you as God fearing person, to also use this money to fund churches,
orphanages and widows,I took this decision, before i rest in peace because
my time will soon be up.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the First
Inland Bank.I will also issue you a letter of authority that will prove you
as the new beneficiary of my fund. Please assure me that you will act
accordingly as I stated herein. Hoping to hear from you soon.

Remain blessed.

Yours Sister,
Mrs Maria Fernandez

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam