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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
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• 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:
  • "dearest one," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: <rosemarywilliams@centrum.cz>
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:46:44 +0200
Subject: Dearest One


Dearest One, My name is Mrs.Rosemary Williams, I am a dying woman who has decided to donate what I have to charity through you.You may be wondering why I chose you.But someone has to be chosen. I am 59 years old and was diagnosed for cancer about two years ago,immediately after the death of my husband who had left with me everything he worked for.
 I have been touched by God to donate from what I have inherited from my late husband to charity through you for the good work of humanity,rather than allow my relatives to use my husband's hard earned funds inappropriately.I have asked God to forgive me all my sins and I believe he has,because He is merciful. I will be going in for an operation,and I pray that I survive the operation but if i did not survive it don't cry for me only what you will do is to help me do this charity work so that my mind will be at rest even in the death.
 
I have decided to WILL/Donate the sum of $4 Million (4 Million Dolars)to charity homes through you for the good work of the God, and to help the motherless,fatherless and also for the assistance of the widows and beggers.
At the moment I cannot take any telephone calls, due to the fact that my relatives are around me and I have been restricted by my doctor from taking telephone calls because I deserve a rest for now because of my cancer.
 
Presently,I have informed my lawyer about my decision in WILLING this fund to charity through you in your country. I wish you all the best and may the good Lord bless you abundantly, and please use this funds well and always extend the good work to others. 
 
If you are interested in carrying out this task,i will inform my Family Lawyer so that he can arrange the release of the funds to you.I know i have never met you before,but my mind tells me to do this,and I hope you act sincerely good name is better than millions of dollars. I am now too weak and fragile to do things myself because of my cancer.
 Note:I will appreciate your utmost confidentiality in this matter until the task is accomplished,as I don't want anything that will Jeopardize my last wish, due to the fact that I do not want relatives or family members standing in the way of my last wish. with Love,Mrs.Rosemary Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam