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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
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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:

• 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:
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "cotonou" (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 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.
  • mrs_kim_williams5@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mrs Kim Williams <mrs_kim_williams5@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrs_kim_williams1@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:48:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YOU ARE THE LORD CHOSEN ONE


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: mrs_kim_williams5@yahoo.com



- YOU ARE THE LORD CHOSEN ONE I sincerely apologize for not taking your permission before contacting you while also asking you to pardon my poor English, as I am half educated. It is rather unfortunate that I am writing this mail to you in deep tears while lying on a hospital bed due to chronic cancer of the lungs waiting for the time to pass unto eternal glory. My ordeal is quite complicated but I will appreciate it if you give a little time to hear me out. First, I would like to start by introducing my self to you. I am Mrs.Kimberly Williams from Cotonou, Republic of Benin in West Africa as stated above. I was born on the 7 th of April 1952 in a small village and grew up as a petty trader until I met my husband who was a Cocoa Trader. We got married and lived happily together but had no children. This never bothered us as we were good Christians and never blamed God for that. Three years ago, I lost my husband in a motor accident while going on his trade. His death was the beginning of my unfortunate ordeal. I had to undergo a lot of ritual procedures based on tradition by his family members to find out if I had a hand in his death. Part of the ritual was being forced to drink water from his dead body. It is a common thing that happens to African Women. This was not all as all properties belonging to him in my possession was taking away from me and was made an outcast. I lived alone for 3 years as a widow with serious agony while praying to the Lord to take charge. Unknown to his family members, my late husband had a total sum of $18, 000,000 USD (Eighteen Million United States Dollars) which was left secretly in a Bank. His lawyer who presently resides in the Nigeria Secretly revealed it to me.Since I have no close family to give it to as I am the only daughter of my parents who died long ago and do not intend to give it to the family of my late husband, I thought it would be good to find someone reliable who could use the money to help the poor and needy hence my contacting you. I will appreciate if you utilize the funds properly as instructed. Kindly get back to me as soon as possible so that I can provide you with contact information of the Lawyer in Nigeria who you will contact for further details to collect the funds. May God bless you as you take up this opportunity to help the poor and the needy. Regards, Mrs.Kimberly Williams

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam