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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:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • ann_golu@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: anngolu@sify.com
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:47:25 +0000
Subject: Greetings.



Greetings.

Greetings to you and your family in the name of God,in my search for a
reliable and God fearing person and having gotten your contact through
prayers and pains taking efforts via searching i made on the internet
on my bed side. Presently, I'm in a hospital where I have been
undergoing treatment for Oesophagi Cancer .

Though its a sad and long story but I will cut it short for your quick
and easy understanding. I am Ann Golu (Mrs), widow to Late Mr. Edward
Golu, former Defence attachee to Benin Embassy in Greece. My husband
was murdered alonside our only son Elvis by those who are envious of
his position in the same office.

Before his death he made a vow to use his wealth for the down
trodden,orphanages and the less privileged in the society. Having
known my condition I decided to donate this fund to an individual or
better still a God fearing person who will utilize this money the way
I am going to instruct here in. I want a personthat will use this fund
and provide succor to poor and indigent persons, orphanages, and
widows and for the propagating peace.

I took this decision because I do not have any child that will inherit
this money and my husband relatives are not inclined to helping poor
persons and I do not want my husband's hard earned money to be misused
or spent in the manner in which my late husband did not specify. I do
not want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly
manner.

What is required of you is your honesty, trust and sincerity. Any
delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing for another person
for this same purpose.

You can contact me on this my private email: ann_golu@sify.com

May God Almighty bless you.
Ann Golu (Mrs)

The information in this email is confidential and may be legally
privileged. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorized. It is
intended solely for the address. If you are not theintended recipient,
any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted
to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and maybe unlawful.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam