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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348057749475 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • barrister_frank_m@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "BARRISTER MARK" <barrister_frank_mark001@msn.com>
Reply-To: barrister_frank_mark_001@yahoo.fr
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 17:47:52 +0000
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY IS NEEDED.

BARRISTER FRANK MARK (SAN)
FRANK MARK CHAMBERS
12 YAYA CRESENCE.
LAGOS.

Attention Please:

I feel the surprise this mail will bring you at first sight.I got your
contacts through the search for a reliable and trustworthy person can
handle this transaction with.Before I proceed,I would like you to know that
what I am about to tell you is not meant for public knowledge.Should it be
made public,my license as a practising Attorney will be revoked.

I am Barrister FRANK MARK (SAN),Senior Advocate of Nigeria in the supreme
high court of justice,The personal Attorney to Late Engr.PHILLIP BRUCE, a
national of United States of America who was an Oil Contractor /Merchant
(N.N.P.C OIL COMPANY NIG ) with our Government,who died in a motor accident
with his family along Sagbama road on the 17th July 2003.None of them
survive the tragedy, herein after shall be referred to as my client.

My late client has a huge amount of money,amounted to USD$1,3 million ( One
Million Three Hundred Thausand United States Dollars) which was kept with
the security company and the security company has given to me a notice of 2
weeks to get the Next of Kin to the deceased or they have the money
confiscated.

I have been searching for his relation and I have not seen anyone, So I
decides to go through the internet by using his last name to search because
my client is a foreigner from United States Of America.My late cleint did
know state any one as his next of kin on his deposit documents hence am
contacting you now to act as his next of kin while I will furnish you with
all the legal documents/certificates.

I will appreciate your response / concern towards my late client, If you act
as the next of kin or help me in the search of his relatives. I hope to hear
from you as soon as you read this mail.

For more confidential reasons,reply this very mail through my private email
address.

Yours truly,
Barrister Frank Mark (SAN)
Confidential email : barrister_frank_m@yahoo.co.uk
Office line:+234-805-7749475

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam