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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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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)
  • "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "huge sum of money" (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.
  • oba_follu1@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "OBA FOLLU" <oo4@weiz.cc>
Reply-To: oba_follu1@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 16:41:15 +0200
Subject: From: Barrister Oba Follu


From: Barrister Oba Follu7 Bello Street
V.IEmail:oba_follu1@yahoo.com.hkDear Friend, First, I'm soliciting
your utmost confidenciality in this Transaction. I am Barr.Oba Follu,
the personal attorney to late Christian Eich. I came to you in my
private search for a reliable person to handle this confidential
transaction, which involves huge sum of money to your country. The
Proposition: My late client, late Christian Eich who died on 25th
July 2000 aboard AF4590 which crashed into the Hotelissimo with all
109 people on board and five who died on the ground when the plan
crashed, while returning from his country from a business trip. He
deposited with a security company a consignment and the content of the
consignment is worth US$11Million, having heard of the tragic incident
involving late Christian Eich and his family,the security company now
expects a next of kin as beneficiary. Valuable efforts have been made
by the security company’s management and myself to get in touch with
any of his family's but I personally found out that he died with his
entire family.The only name of next of kin given to me by Christian
Eich unfortunately was with him in the same flight that crashed, and
this is unknown to the security company’s management. I'm taking
this advantage in order to better my life and that of my family, I now
decided to seek your permission to have you stand as next of kin to
late Christian Eich, so that the consignment containing the money be
released to you as the next of kin. All documents and proves to enable
you get this fund will be carefully worked out, by me because he gave
me the certificate of deposit before his death . You can take time and
verify from the website as shown herein for confirmation of the crash,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm I am assuring you
that this transaction and its procedures is 100% legal and risk free
involvement. Your share stays while the rest will be for myself. The
sharing of the fund between the two of us will be as follows: 30% of
the total sum will go to you for your effort and commitment to the
success of this transaction. 70% will be for us here. As soon as I
receive an acknowledgement of the receipt of this message in
Acceptance, I will immediately start up with the process. If this
proposal is acceptable by you, kindly reply me immediately you get
this mail. I want you to also furnish me with the following
information: 1.Your private telephone/fax or preferably your mobile
numbers.2. Your full names and address,. I will have to apply for the
release of the consignment in your favor as the next of kin.Finally,
note that the security company officers/management does not know the
contents of the consignment but as the personal attorney to late
Christian Eich, I happened to have the privilege of knowing the
content of the consignment, Christian Eich declared the content of the
consignment to be his personal effects. Thank you in advance for your
anticipated cooperation and I shall give you more details on what we
are to do to claim the consignment without any hitch. Note, we shall
do it a way that the consignment will be delivered to you in your
country. Note this transaction must be kept in STRICT CONFIDENTIALITY
and TOP SECRET.If you are interested please do email me on the above
email address (oba_follu1@yahoo.com.hk)Yours faithfully,Barr.Oba Follu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam