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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "dying widow" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: British Railway Commission Miss Ross Foster <info_missrossfoster@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 11:41:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: OFFICIAL LETTER TO






Dear Friend,=20
=A0
Greetings to you and your family.=20
=A0
I know this mail will come to you as a suprise, but i want=A0you =A0to read=
and consider my=A0 request from you.=20
=A0
Meanwhile my name is Mrs.Ross Foster, i am undergoing medical treatment in =
Dubai.I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer which was discovered ver=
y late, due to my laxity in caring for my health.I was married to Dr. John =
Foster who worked as a director with British Railway Commission for over a =
decade before he died on 5th of July in the year 2003. We were married for =
fifteen years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted fo=
r two weeks.Before his death he made a vow to use his wealth for the less p=
rivileged in the society. Since his death I decided not to re-marry or get =
a child outside my matrimonial home.=20
=A0
I and my husband deposited the sum of US$9.5Million(Nine million five hundr=
ed thousand dollar) to a finance firm in Europe as family valuables,and now=
that my Doctor made it clear to me that I would not last long due to my he=
alth that has resulted to stroke,I hereby seek for an assistance of an hone=
st and God fearing person to assist me distribute this funds to orphanages,=
and those affected in the Tsunami in far Asia. I took this decision because=
I do not have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relati=
ves are not inclined to helping poor people,they are only after the money a=
nd I do not want my husbands hard earned money to be misused or spent in th=
e manner in which my late husband did not specify. I do not want them to kn=
ow about this development, this is why i am contacting an external person a=
nd also i cannot carry this out because of my condition.=20
=A0
As soon as I receive your reply I will introduce you as my partner,and shal=
l give you the contact of the Finance Firm where the funds are deposited as=
Family valuables. I will also issue you a letter of authority and all othe=
r documents that will empower you as the next beneficiary.=20
=A0
10% of the total sum will be yours for your kind assistance and time.=20
=A0
I expect your reply immediately.=20
Thank you and may the Almighty bless you.=20
=A0
Yours sincerely,=20
=A0
Mrs. Ross Foster.
=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam