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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "affidavit of claim" (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. )
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: johngo49@yahoo.co.nz
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:02:38 +0530 (IST)
Subject: From: Mr. John Gordon (Urgent and Honest proposition)


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: john.gordon70@yahoo.in



- This is a personal email directed to you and I request that it be treated as such. I am John Gordon, I am a German National. A Government registered Attorney in Britain and personal Attorney/sole executor to the late Engineer Alexander Lux. Hereinafter shall be referred to as" my client" I represent the interest of my client who with his wife and their only child were involved in the tsunami disaster on the 26th December 2004 in Sumatra Indonesia and I will like to negotiate the terms of investment of resources available to him.My late client worked as consulting engineer & sub-controller with until his death was an Engineer with CHINA COMMUNICATIONS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD (CCCC) there in China and had left behind a deposit of US$ 7,500,000.00 Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollar with a bank in China. The funds originated from contract transactions he executed in his registered area of business.Just after his death, I was contacted by the bank to provide his next of kin, reasons been that his deposit agreement contains a residuary clause giving his personal attorney express authority to nominate the beneficiary to his funds. Unknown to the bank there in China, Alexander had left no possible trace of any of his close relative with me, making all efforts in my part to locate his family relative to be unfruitful since his death. In addition, from Alexander's story, he was only an orphan. He was adopted and his foster parents whom he lost in 1976, according to him had no possible trace of his real family. Though he once told me he was from Austin, Texas, USA, like he was told by his foster parentsI reasoned very professionally and resolved to use a legal means to retrieve the abandoned funds in China, and that is to present the next of kin of my deceased client to the bank. This is legally possible and would be done in accordance with the laws. I do sincerely sympathize to death of my client but I think that it is unprofitable for his funds to be submitted to the government of this China or some financial institution.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. As I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on this. Please get in touch with me now for better confidentiality and If you are ready to do this deal with, I will love you to provide me with the following information’s asstated below 2. Address:3. Nationality:4. Age:5. Sex:6. Occupation:7. Marital status:8. Private phone no:9. Private fax no: This will enable us discuss further on this transaction and also to enable me go to the federal high court here in China and secure an affidavit of claim on your behalf to enable you get the legal backing to the claim. And if this proposal is acceptable by you, do not hesitate to send your response via e-mail to my private box (johngo49@live.com) or call me on my China Cell Phone#: 0086-13432014045, so that I can furnish you more with all the information needed, do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed on you, thanks for your understanding.Best Regards.John Gordon Cell Phone: 0086-13432014045.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam