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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:
  • "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 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.
  • sreedone@excite.com

Fraud email example:

From: "stanley reeds" <reed5@planetlawyers.net>
Reply-To: sreedone@excite.com
Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:57:29 +0000
Subject: Hello

Dear sir,

I am Mr Stanley Reeds, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, by
name Mr. Andrew Parker,who hereinafter shall be referred to as my client,
died as the result of a heart-related condition in November 2002. I have
contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client
before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this
deposit valued at 45million dollars is lodged.

This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the
account will be confiscated because there is a government
gazzette/mandate/authorising all banks to freeze or consificate any
account that has not been servicable in a long period of time,this is geared
towards capital flight for the economy.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, 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 cooperation to enable us see this
transaction through. This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law.

If this business proposition offends your moral values,do accept my
apology but if not, then contact me at once to indicate your interest,By
giving me your telephone number, fax number and your address so that I too
can contact you.
Kindly reply to : sreedone@excite.com
Best regards,

Barrister Stanley Reeds

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam