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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "KENNEDY .R.R HARRIS" <kennedy.r.r.harris@klikni.cz>
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 12:39:51 +0200
Subject: Good Day


From: Kennedy Boyce Harris
C/2645 RUE DE JERRICHO
COTONOU
REPUBLIC DU BENIN .
Good Day
I know this mail will come to you as a surprise since we have not had
previous Correspondence, please bear with me. I will really like to have a
good relationship with you, and I have a special reason why I decided to
contact you, hoping that you would cooperate with me.
My names are. Kennedy Boyce Harris, a Manager and former personal assistant
to a business Guru and my former Boss, Late Frederick M. Wong. This mail is
Written and intended to solicit your assistance to be presented as NEXT OF
KIN to my Late Boss, Frederick M. Wong, ( California USA ). He was a
Government Approved contractor with the Government of the Republic of
Benin, an Oil Merchant with the Government of the Gabon a Central African
country, and also a gold dealer in Ghana and very wealthy for that matter.
Mr. Frederick M. Wong made a fixed Deposit of Fund valued at USD25M (Twenty
Five Million United States Dollars Only) with a Security Firm in COTONOU
REPUBLIC OF BENIN, before he and his lovely wife unfortunately lost their
life's aboard Egypt Air Flight 990, which crashed in to the Atlantic Ocean
on November 2nd, 1999. PLEASE READ THE WEBSITE.
(news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm) and left no clear
beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the
Deposit that he left on my care, as I was with him at the time of the
deposit of this funds, The Governing Body of the Security Company where the
funds had been deposited has contacted me on this matter, and have demanded
that I provide the next of kin to whom this funds would be released To
Immediately, I have tried my best to see if I could locate any of his
relation,
Unfortunately till this time I have been unable to locate and provide any
one of his Relations as the Next of Kin to lay claims to the Fund. This is
why I then decided To look for a trust worthy person that I can front as his
next of kin and my search For such person then lead me to you based under a
clear and legitimate agreement With you, I shall seek your consent to
present you to the Security Company as his Next of kin and final beneficiary
of the said funds.
For the sake of transparency on this matter, you are free to make immediate
contact with me only through this my E-mail:
kennedy.boyceharris@yahoo.esfor further information relating to this
Matter.
Thank you very much for your anticipated acceptance while I expect your
prompt Response. Bear in mind that if you agree to assist me with this
project, you would be entitled To 30% of the total sum, while 5% is mapped
out to cover every unforeseen expenses That might be incurred in the cause
of this project, like telephone calls and other Little expenses, while the
remaining would be for me, and one other staff of our Company that knows
about this funds.Note that it does not matter the country you come from or
your colour everything Would be taken care of and be assured that this
project is 100% risk free so you need Not entertain any fears, because my
family is a well know family here in my country, All I ask for is your full
cooperation to conclude this project fast, because if I do Not present the
next of kin on time the funds might be declared unclaimed and handed Over
to the Federal Government of Benin, hence your urgent response is needed.
Thanking you once more for your anticipated assistance and cooperation.

Mr. Kennedy Boyce Harris

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam