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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:
  • "million united states 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.
• 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.
  • +34639446879 (Spain, 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.
  • patrickalexander@lycos.es

Fraud email example:

From: "PATRICK ALEXANDER" <kaixa55@netscape.net>
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 13:43:04 +0100
Subject: THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY(LET US TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT)


MR. PATRICK ALEXANDER
AUDITOR - GENERAL
CALLE MALINA 397, 29006.
MADRID SPAIN
TELL: +34-639-446-879
PRIVATE EMAIL:patrickalexander@lycos.es

PROPOSITION;
I am Mr.Patrick Alexander, the Auditor General of a reputable bank in Spain ,
during the course of our auditing I discovered a floating fund in an
account opened in the bank in 1990 and since 1991 till date nobody has operated on this account again, after going through some old files in the records I discovered an abandoned deposit in my bank by one of our foreign customers who died along with his entire family as a result of an automobile crash in China. He actually made a numbered time (fixed)deposit valued at US$112,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Twelve million united states dollars),for twelve calender months in my bank.The funds was actually meant for a project our late client wanted to start in the near future (a multi million Dollar steel plant in Canada)
I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, I sent a reminder and finally we discovered that Mr. Huan Mi died from an automobile accident with his entire family .On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a Will, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Huan Mi did not declare any next of kin or
relations in all his official documents,including his Bank Deposit paperwork in our Bank.Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as the original next of kin to the deceased as all documentations will be carefully worked out by me for the funds to be released in your favour as the beneficiary's next of kin. Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business endeavour by furnishing me with the following informations;

1. FULL MAMES AND ADDRESS:
2. DIRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER AND FAX NUMBERS:
3. OCCUPATION AND POSITION:
4. NATIONALITY
5. MARITAL STATUS:
6. AGE /SEX:

These requirements will enable me file letter of claim to the
appropriate departments for necessary approvals in your favour before
i could proceed on the transfer of the funds to the designated account of your choice.I shall be compensating you with 35% of the total money while 65% will be mine on final conclusion of this project.
If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of
the trust I have bestowed in you, I await your urgent mail. Please reply
to my private and confidential email: patrickalexander@lycos.es


Best Regards,
Mr. Patrick Alexander

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam