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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• 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:

• 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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Serena Adams" <serenaadams001@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: serena_adams001@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 16:51:20 +0100
Subject: Dearest in the Lord,


Dearest in the Lord,

My name is Mrs. Serena Adams.I am a dying woman who has decided to donate
what I have to you and your church.I am 63 years old,i am a deaf and
suffering from a long time cancer of the breast which also affected my brain
about 9 years ago immediately after the death of my husband, whohas 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 forgiveme 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 i am deaf as stated above.

The security & finance company will arrange the transfer of the fund 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.

God Bless You
Mrs.Serena Adams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam