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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • jamesmark1@katamail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "jaen smith" <johnsmithO25@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: jamesmarks4@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2007 15:48:44 +0000
Subject: Business Initiative & Concept

From The Desk Of: Barr. James Mark
(HILLARYPAUL & ASSOCIATE LTD)
Tel:+447833 570 762
Fax:+447833 579 015
Email:JAMESMARK1@katamail.com

Attn:CEO

I am Barrister James Mark. I am the Personal Attorney to Mr. Morris Thompson an American who unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31 2000, including his wife and only daughter. You shall read more about the crash on visiting this website. <http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/>

Since then I have made several enquiries to his Embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you for your assistance.

I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged with the BARCLAYS BANK PLC. This is the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about £10.5 million Pounds.

Conseqently, The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next fourteen official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 6 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are not his relative so that the proceeds of this account valued at £5.5 million Pounds can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money. 60% to me and 30% to you, while 10% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require. We intend to effect the transfer within a few days from the date of receipt of the following information:
1)Your name,
2) company's name,
3) address
4) telephone and fax numbers,

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me by my Fax number,email address above or phone to enable us discuss further and send me your fax and telephone number.
Please Reply to my private emailaddress:jamesmark1@katamail.com

Best regards,
Jean Smith

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam