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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • stevemark401@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "steve mark" <stevemark002@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 11:28:31 +0100
Subject: you as next of kin

From the desk of : Mr.Steve Mark
Account Head (Platinum Bank Limited )
Tele : (234)-1-8130388
Reply to :stevemark401@yahoo.com

BANK HEAD OFFICE
Plot 707 Adeola Hopewell Street
PMB 80054, Victoria Island, Lagos

Dear friend


I am Mr.STEVE MARK , ACCOUNT HEAD with PLATINUM BANK
LTD (P.B.LTD) I am writing this letter to ask your
support and cooperation to carry out this business
opportunity in my Department. We discovered an
abandoned sum of ($18.9 Million United States Dollars)
in an account that belongs to one of our foreign
customers Late Allan P, an oil maketer/dealer who
unfortunately died in the IKEJA BOMB BLAST of January
27, 2002 . My client , tried to survive but died at a
near by hospital some days later .


Since we heard of his death, we have been expecting
his NEXT-OF-KIN to come over and put claims to his
money as the HEIR, because we cannot release the
funds from his account unless someone applies for
claim as the NEXT-OF-KIN to the Deceased as indicated
in our banking guidelines. Unfortunately, neither
their family member nor distant relative has ever
appeared to claim the said fund. Upon this discovery,
I and other officials in my department have agreed to
make business with you and release the total amount
into your account as the heir of the fund since no one
came for it or discovered his maintained account with
our bank, otherwise the fund will be returned to the
banks treasury as unclaimed fund.


We have agreed that our ratio of sharing will be as
stated thus : 50% for you as FOREIGN PARTNER , 50 %
for us the officials in my department .Upon the
successful completion of this transfer, I and one of
my colleagues will come to your COUNTRY and mind our
SHARE. It is from our 50 % we intend to import
Agricultural Machineries into my country as a way of
recycling the fund. To commence this transaction,
immediately indicate your interest by a return e-mail
and enclose your Private contact Telephone/Mobile
Phone numbers, Fax numbers , Full Name and Home/Work
Address to enable me file a letter of claim to the
appropriate department's for the necessary approval to
release the Fund to you soonest .

Note also, this transaction must be kept STRICTLY
CONFIDENTIAL because of its nature.

I look forward to receiving your prompt response
immediately to stevemark401@yahoo.com

Mr.Steve Mark
ACCOUNT HEAD
PLATINUM BANK LIMITED

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam