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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:
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• 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.

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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:
  • "00,000.00" (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)
• This email message is a next of kin 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.
  • williamchristophera@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: williamchristophera@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:16:39 -0400
Subject: NOTICE OF INHERITANCE

BCM HANBY WALLACE
98 Victoria Street,
Belfast BT1 3JZ
Northern Ireland

NOTICE OF INHERITANCE

With the power attorney of the Estate of late Mr Merv Griffin.I wish to
notify you that late Mr Merv Griffin made you a beneficiary to his will.He
left the sum of Twenty one Million three Hundred Thousand
Dollars.($21,300,000.00 )to you in the codicil and last testament to his
will.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20236685/

Late Mr Merv Griffin until his death was a philanthropy and his great
philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time, late Mr
Merv Griffin died at the age of 82 years.According to him this money is to
support your activities and to help the needy around you.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND DIRECTIVES,FILL THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION,
1.Full Names
2.contact address/Country
AND SEND IT TO:williamchristophera@gmail.com

THIS IS TO ENABLE US PROCURE A LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION WITH WHICH YOU WILL
APPLY FOR THE RELEASE OF YOUR FUND.

Yours In Service,
WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER(ESQ)
FOR AND BEHALF OF BOARD AND TRUSTEES

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam