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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • "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.
  • mrsnailah@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: nailandcole40@comcast.net
Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:41:58 +0000
Subject: PLEASE SEND ME AN ANSWER SOONEST

EMAIL=[ mrsnailah@aim.com ]





MY NAME IS NAILAH COLEMAN
UNDERGOING MEDICAL TREATMENT IN BEDFORD HOSPITAL,MTHATHA,

EASTERN CAPE. SOUTH AFRICA.

I AM MARRIED TO DR.ROBERT COLEMAN WHO WORKED
WITH BRITISH JUDICAL COMMISSION IN ENGLAND.WE WERE
MARRIED FOR FIFTEEN YEARS WITHOUT A CHILD. BEFORE HIS DEATH ON THE 5TH OF JULY 2004.HE MADE
A VOW TO USE HIS WEALTH FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED.HE DEPOSITED
THE SUM OF 3.5 MILLION POUNDS WITH ONE SECURITY COMPANY IN
EUROPE.PRESENTLY, HIS MONEY
IS STILL WITH THE COMPANY.RECENTLY, MY DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT I WILL NOT
LAST FOR THE NEXT 4 MONTHS DUE TO A RARE FORM OF CANCER OF THE PANCREAS
BUT WHAT DISTURBS ME MOST IS MY STROKE.I HAVE
DECIDED TO DONATE THIS FUNDS TO A GOD FEARING PERSON
WHO WILL UTILISE IT AS MY HUSBAND WISHED.




NOTE= DIRECT YOUR RESPONSE TO
THIS EMAIL FOR
MORE INFORMATION AND FOR SAKE OF
CONFIDENTIALITY [ mrsnailah@aim.com ]

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam