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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "greater london" (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)
  • "hundred thousand us 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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.Mike Emma" <mikeemma@colombia.com>
Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 08:42:47 -0700
Subject: I Need Your Reply.


*
Dear Friend,
My Name is Dr.Mike Emma from Harlesden, North West London, here in England.
I work for Nat West Bank London. I am writing following an opportunity in my
office that will be of an immense benefit to both of us. *

*In my department, being the Manager (Greater London Regional Office), I
discovered an abandoned sum of $12.5million USA Dollars (Twelve million five
hundred thousand US Dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our
foreign customers Late Mr. Thompson Morrison. *

*An American citizen 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.
The choice of contacting you is aroused from the geographical nature of
where you live, particularly due to the sensivity of the transaction. And
the confidentiality herein. Now our bank has been waiting for any of the
relatives to come-up for the claim but nobody has done that. *

*I personally has been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for 2 years
now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin / Will
Beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at
12.5Million Dollars can be paid to you. *

*This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to
you. I have secured all necessary legal documents that can be used to back
up this claim we are making.All I need is to fill in your names to the
documents and legalize it in the court here to prove you as the legitimate
beneficiary. *

*while we have made arrangements with Diplomatic Envoy in service to move
the money through diplomatic process to your country with all the necessary
papers to enhance depositing the money in to a bank in your country. All I
require now is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and Trust to enable
us sees this transaction through. *

*I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please, provide me the
following: as we have 5 days to run it through. This is very very URGENT
PLEASE.*

* *

*1. Your Full Name........... *

* *

*2. Your mobile Telephone Number............ *

* *

*3. Your Contact Address..................... *


*Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.*


*Best regards,
Dr.Mike Emma.*

* *

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam