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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:
  • "barrister" (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 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.
  • +447031916232 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "elvis davis" <elvis_davis@msn.com>
Reply-To: bar_elvis_chamber@msn.com
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 17:52:19 +0000
Subject: YOUR NEXT OF KIN/REPLY URGENTLY

GREAT ELVIS DAVIS LAW FIRM UK,
12 Campshill Road,
London United Kingdom
Email:bar_elvis_chamber@msn.com
Phone:+447031916232

Dear Starr,
Please permit me to introduce myself to you, I am
Barrister ELVIS DAVIS, a Legal Practitioner in
London, United Kingdom. I got your contact from the UK
Chambers of Commerce and Trade, and I have decided to
contact you so that we can carry out this mutually
beneficial business transaction.

My late Client Mr William Starr an American, until
his death deposited a total of US$5.5M three years ago
with a financial house in United Kingdom. He was a
Director with Shell Petroleum Development Company in
Gabon, Western Africa.

Since I am the personal attorney of Mr. William Starr,
he gave me the custody of the deposit documents, and
as such entrusted me with the Legal Rights to transfer
and execute this deposit to any Next of Kin after his
demise. I have since tried to locate any Next of Kin
to my late client without success, hence I decided to
contact you so that you can rightfully stand as the
next of kin to inherit the deposited sum.

This is a staggering sum, and I need a reliable person
to help me with necessary arrangements to transfer the
deposited sum out of the United Kingdom. By virtue of
my position as an Attorney, I will arrange the
documents in your name so that you can rightly apply
as a Next of Kin to my late client in a capacity
of a Family Friend.

You will be entitled to 40% of the total sum should
you be willing to assist me in this business
transaction, and I will get the remaining 60%. I will
prepare a formal agreement to guide us in this
transaction for accountability purpose.
Please contact me as soon as possible so that we can
start processing the documents.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours truly,
ELVIS DAVIS (Legal Practitioners)
12 Campshill Road,
London United Kingdom
Tel:+447031916232

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam