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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • "robert mugabe" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• 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.
  • stevenelvis09@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: linda elvis <elvis_199@msn.com>
Reply-To: <stevenelvis09@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 12:35:07 +0000
Subject: FROM: MRS LINDA ELVIS



FROM: MRS LINDA ELVIS
GWANDA TOWN IN ZIMBABWE
Good Day
I NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE
I know how surprise this letter will come to you, But I would advice that you consider it as a request from a family in dare need of assistance. I am MRS.LINDA ELVIS the wife of Mr. DAVID ELVIS of Gwanda town in Zimbabwe.
Your contact information came to me from your country's trade journal during my search for a reliable and God fearing person that can assist me and my only son,and I quite believe on my own that you can be of great help in this regard even if I am not acquainted to you before.The business involves the transfer of TWELVE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS ONLY (US$12,700,000.00) into your account for safekeeping.
This fund is inherited from my late husband who was assassinated by the president's (ROBERT MUGABE) aides in view of taking his lands and property during the crisis which lead to the killing and banishing of foreign (white) farmers.
After the death of my husband (A day I can never forget) I was approached by our family lawyer who told me that my late husband had filed a document with him which stipulates his "WILL". In the "WILL" he specifically pointed and I quote,Darling, I wish to draw your attention to the sum of TWELVE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND U.S. Dollars (U.S$12.7M) which I deposited with a Security Company in Johannesburg South Africa with all the documents filed by our lawyer.
In case of my absence on earth caused by death only, you should solicit for a foreigner that can assist you to transfer the money out of their (SouthAfrica) for investment purposes. I have saved this money to make the future of my only son "steven Elvis" and he told me, my wife immediately the government started eyeing my business and involvement with the white farmers.
Please take good care of "steven" and yourself, we shall meet to part no more. You will understand that my future especially the future of my son depends on this money and as such I will be grateful if you can assist us in transferring this fund to your account overseas for our investments.
You can contact my son" steven Elvis"in South Africa. on his private Email(stevenelvis09@gmail.com) as he will direct you with our lawyer to arrange the modalities of transferring this fund without any hitch.For your assistance we have agreed to offer you 25% of the whole fund, 5% for any expenses that may be incurred while the remaining 70% will be kept for us under your care till our arrival in your country.
Please I want to tell you that my family living here in South Africa is comfortable with us especially my only son
steven. God blesses you for your anticipated understanding and co-operation.
Please read the problems in Zimbabwe.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/918781.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm
I await your urgent and positive response
Best regards
Mrs. Linda Elvis
(For the family)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam