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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +34656307574 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • puertasgrande@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: sr_puertasgrande@zipmail.com.br
Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:17:58 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?confidential=20and=20urgent?=

SEÑOR PUERTAS GRANDE
VALENCIA SPAIN.
TEL: +34 656 307 574
FAX: +34 911 817 628
Email: puertasgrande@yahoo.com

ATTN:To Whom It May Concern,

I am Señor Puertas Grande, an attorney at law with Grande y Asiciados Abogados
law firm, Valencia, Spain. A deceased client of mine, died as the result
of a heart-related condition on the 11th November 2001. His heart condition
was due to the death of all the members of his family in the Gulf Air Flight
Crashes in Persian Gulf Near Bahrain Aired August 23rd 2000 - 2:50 p.m.
ET as reported on: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23/bn.08.html


If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology,
but I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind
by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank
where this deposit valued at Thirty three million, five hundred thousand
dollars (US$33.5 million dollars) is lodged. This bank has issued me a notice
to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin
and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same last name, so
that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share
the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. All legal documents to
back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require
is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through.

This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from many breach of the law. I must use this opportunity to implore you
to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential,
whatever your decision, while I await your prompt response. Please contact
me at once to indicate your interest. I will like you to acknowledge the
receipt of this mail as soon as possible via my private EMAIL :( puertasgrande@yahoo.com)
and treat with absolute confidentiality and sincerity. I look forward to
your quick reply.

Best regards,
Señor Puertas Grande
Attorney at Law

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam