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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:
  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 states 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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +22507873405 (Cote d'Ivoire, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.Gunther Williams" <dr.guntherw0101@gmail.com>
Reply-To: dr.guntherwilliams@hotmail.fr
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:45:31 +0200
Subject: A Charity Donation To You..


From Dr.Gunther Williams.
Tel:- +225 07873405.

Hello,

I am contacting you based on trust and wish that you will give me back the
trust I have given to you. I am not looking for anything else but for
someone with the fear of God and one who understands the spiritual
implications of handling money meant for the propagation of Gods work.

I am Dr.Gunther Williams of Pisam Clinique here in Abidjan the capital city
of Cote d'ivoire and I have an old man with a long time brain cancer
problem. His name is Mr.Lorna Reist and 67 years old man also a Switzerland
citizen. He was working here in our country with the United Nations but
unfortunately for him, he ran into the hands of the rebels with his wife and
his only son, all were killed during the crises. As at the moment Mr.Lorna
Reist may not live for more that two months. He has gone for his first major
operation and survived it and in showing appreciation to God for the
survival in the operation he now decide to give part of his wealth for the
promotion and propagation of God's work in the area of Charity.

$7.000,000,00 (seven million united states dollars) is his donation to
humanity and this money are meant for all motherless babies,all and sundry
found in destitute homes and widows. This is a Charity donation from a
passionate heart. Contact me via email if you are sincere enough so that I
will connect you to his attorney who is in the custody of the depository
documents in the bank and please do not reply me if you have the intention
of using this fund in an ungodly way other than evangelism and affecting
lives.

Even though I have not met you in person before but I got a message as I
looked at your ID that you will not betray a trust reposed on you. I will
inform his Family Lawyer so that he can arrange for the release of the funds
to you. Your most confidentiality in this matter will be appreciated until
the task is accomplished, as I don't want anything that will Jeopardize His
last wish, due to the fact that He do not want relatives or family members
standing in the way of His last wish.

Thanks and may God bless you; I do hope to hear from you soon and please do
not forget to send your Telephone number, Your Age, your marital Status,
Your Occupation and Your Nationality.

Yours in Christ,
Dr.Gunther Williams For Evangelist Lorna Reist.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam