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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:
  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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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 united state 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)
  • "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr John Ahmed" <jahmed13@gazeta.pl>
Reply-To: jahmed56@iol.pt
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:28:18 +0100
Subject: Please Read carefully


Please Read carefully
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 for
eternal Life and in the sight of man for witness of God & is Mercies and
glory upon my life.
I sincerely hope that this letter will not come to you as a surprise or an
embarrassment since we neither knew each other before nor had any previous
correspondence or contact. Please do accept my sincere apologies if my mail
does not meet your personal ethics although, I wish to use this medium to
get in touch with you first because it's the only means I prefer for now. I
believe it will be a surprise to you as we have never met before, and I am
deeply sorry if I have in any manner disturbed your privacy. Please forgive
this unusual manner of my contacting you.
Let me start by introducing myself. My name is John Ahmed, A Lebanese
national; I was into currency exchange business here in United Kingdom
before my present health predicament.I have been diagnosed with esophageal
cancer. It has defied all forms of medical treatment, and right now my
doctor has informed me that I only have about a few months to live,
according to medical experts.
I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for
anyone (not even myself) but my business. 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.
If I have second chance to come to this world I would live my life a
different way from how I have lived it. Now that God has called me, I have
willed and given most of my properties and assets to my immediate and
extended family members as well as a few close friends. I want God to be
merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to give alms to charity
organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on
earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in the
U.A.E, Somalia and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I
cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my family to close
one of my bank accounts and distribute the money which I have there to
charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan; 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. They have plundered so much of
my wealth since my illness; I cannot live with the agony of entrusting this
huge responsibility to any of them.
The last of my money which no one knows of is a huge cash of deposit which
amount Two Million United State Dollars ($2,000,000.00) that I have with
financial institution abroad. I will want you to help me collect this
deposit and dispatch it to charity organizations. Please do not ignore this
offer because it's a divine direction from God.
N/B: KINDLY NOTE THAT 70% of these funds must go to victims of recent
disasters and another 20% for buiding and maintenance of God house while the
remaining 10% is for your effort and time. Upon receipt of your response, I
shall communicate with you, and let you know the details of the money.
Whatever your actions and your decision, I thank you for taking the time to
read this email.
May God bless you.
Regards,
Mr.John Ahmed

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam