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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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 deposit" (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.)
• 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.
  • steve_osagie@mail.md (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: sosagie@zipmail.com.br
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2006 05:29:54 -0800
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Attn=3A=20My=20Dear=20Friend=20=28Beneficiary=29?=

STEVE J. OSAGIE & ASSOCIATES CHAMBERS
PLOT 45, SUITE 2, WIRPLE ROAD,
LAG - NIG, WEST AFRICA

PLEASE REPLY VIA THIS PRIVATE MAIL ADDRESS: steve_osagie@mail.md

BUSSINESS ASSISTANCE NEEDED

Dear Freind,

I am Barrister Steve J. Osagie, a legal practictioner, I am the personal
attorney to Thoma Pacente a national of your country who was a contractor
with Consolidated Oil limited. On the 21st of April 2004, my client, his
wife and their three children were involved in a car accident on an express
Way. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives.

Since then I have made several inquires to your embassy to locate any of
my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these
several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the
Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have
contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind
by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
affiliate Finance House where this huge deposits were lodged particularly,
the Finance house where the deceased had an account valued at about US$16.5million
dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account
confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued
at US$16.5 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share
the money. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back
up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable
us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get
in touch with me by my private email above to enable us discuss further.

In conclusion, before this can be make possible, we shall need to prepare
the necessary documentation on your name and address, therefore if this
proposal is favorably dispose to you do show your submission as regard this
my mail by sending to me:

Your full name and address:
Your telephone and fax number:

Thank you very much for your co-operation. God bless you.

Best regards,
Barrister Steve J. Osagie
(LLB, SAN, ESQ)

NB: All further correspondence/reply to my private email address: steve_osagie@mail.md

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam