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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Rev=20Joseph=20C=20Williams?=
<pastorministerofgochurch@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: cjosephwilliamsaction@yahoo.co.jp
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 08:25:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Listen to this widow


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:pastorministerofgochurch@yahoo.com.co

Listen to this widow

- Greetings,It become absolutely necessary that I contact you. I have no doubt that this will come to you as a surprises. But as times goes as you read along, you will understand me properly.I am Reverend JOSEPH C. WILLIAMS, I am the senior pastor of the minister's of God church. I also occupy the post of FEDERAL RESERVE ACCOUNT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. I am contacting you in respect of a member of my ministry, Mrs.Jane Arikawe .She is the wife of LFT COL AKIN ARIKAWE. Mr. AKIN was shot to death accidentally on 15th January 2007 by Nigerian police.Since then, matter has being in the court ,2 weeks ago, the government agreed to compensates the family with the sum $4.8million dollars. Now, Mrs AKIN asked me to use my position ,on the trust she had for me to get her a neutral human,to assist her secure this money from the government.According to tradition in Africa she will be asked to go and re-marry leaving her with nothing,While all their sweat/property will go to the biological brothers, sisters and parents just because She had no child with her late husband.I am contacting you, without any regret that with your position, she will have no regret and will not beg , I am confident of. All I am pleading is your total understanding to receive this money $4.8million from the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESERVE OIL ACCOUNT DEPOSIT there in your country so that she will come over to meet you for your advice to investment. Please all I need is your total support, your full name and address, telephone (mobile number) and you're banking details so that my office will approve this fund on your name according to the instructions by Mrs Akin.Note: you are expected to keep this secret at this point to avoid the kinsmen of the late husband seizing the fund from her, as all they are waiting now is for her to receive this money from the Government since she is the only person the court recognises because the federal high court also don't encourage this tradition ,it's an abomination before the creator. It must be stopped.Be rest assures that this is risk free,I am the DIRECTOR FEDERAL RESERVE ACCOUNT who has discretionary power to approve the fund.Please you will be appreciated.Regards,Reverend JOSEPH C. WILLIAMS Reserve Account Director Federal Republic Of Nigeria

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam