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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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:
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "mary_wouldlive Gazeta.pl" <mary_wouldlive@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:10:10 -0700
Subject: MAY THE WILL OF THE LORD BE DONE


*DEAR BELOVED ONE,
GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. I AM MRS MARY MARTINS FROM
SWITZERLAND, A WIDOW TO LATE TOM MARTINS I AM 55 YEARS OLD, I AM NOW A NEW
CHRISTAIN CONVERT, SUFFERING FROM LONG TIME CANCER OF THE BREAST, FROM ALL
INDICATION MY CONDITION IS REALLY DETERIORATING AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT
I WONT LIVE MORE THAN 5 MONTHS, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTORS,PLEASE DO NOT SEE
THIS MAIL AS ONE OF THE SCAMMER E-MAIL OKAY, THIS IS BECAUSE THE CANER STAGE
HAS GOTTEN TO A VERY BAD STAGE.MY <http://stage.my/> LATE HUSBAND DIED LAST
FIVE YEARS, AND DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR MARRIAGE WE COULDNT PRODUCE ANY
CHILD.MY <http://child.my/> LATE HUSBAND WAS VERY WEALTHY AND AFTER HIS
DEATH, I INHERITED ALL HIS BUSINESS AND WEALTH. THE DOCTORS HAVE ADVISED ME
THAT I MAY NOT LIVE FOR MORE THAN 5 MONTHS, SO I NOW DECIDED TO DIVIDE THE
PART OF THIS WEALTH, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHURCH IN
AFRICA, AMERICA ,ASIA, AND EUROPE. I SELECTED YOU AFTER VISITING A WEBSITE
AND I PRAYED OVER IT. I AM WILLING TO DONATE THE SUM OF 5, 000.000.00.Pounds
(FIVE MILLION Pounds) TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED. PLEASE I WANT YOU TO NOTE
THAT THE FUND IS LYING IN MY BANK ACCOUNT IN UK. ONCE I HEAR FROM YOU, I
WILL FORWARD TO YOU ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WILL USE TO GET THE FUND
TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT. I HONESTLY PRAY THAT THIS MONEY WHEN
TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE USED FOR THE SAID PURPOSE, BECAUSE I
HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT WEALTH ACQUISITION WITHOUT CHRIST IS VANITY.
PLEASE I NEED YOUR PRIVATE E-MAIL ADDRESS SO THAT I WILL SEND YOU MY PICS,
THIS MY PRIVATE E-MAIL ADDRESS GET BACK TO ME WITH THIS E-MAIL MAY THE GRACE
OF OUR LORD JESUS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD IS WITH YOU AND
YOU'RE FAMILY. I AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY.YOU CAN CANTACT ME TRUE THIS EMAIL
ADDRESS. YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST
MRS MARY MARTINS *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam