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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 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.)
  • "barr." (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.
  • +447031942690 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • mailresponsemail@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: mailmatters7@pnetmail.co.za
Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 06:25:56 +0200
Subject: Greetings

From: BARR. ROBERT SHELDON (ESQ)
ROBERT & ASSOCIATES,
4 Albert Embankments, London
SE1 7SR, United Kingdom.
PRIVATE MAIL ADDRESS: mailresponsemail@yahoo.co.uk

Attention:Dywait,

I am Barrister Robert Sheldon (Esq.). I have a client Mr. Mark, who bears the same last name with you, and a national of
your Country who used to work with Mekon Associates Company in London. On the 2nd of June 2005, my client, his wife and
their only child were involved in a car accident along Manchester Express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately
lost their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my client's extended relatives, this has also
proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the internet, to
locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you in view of the similarity of your last name.

I have contacted you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind by my late client before they got confiscated or
declared unserviceable by the Finance House where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Finance House where
the deceased lodged about US$20M has issued me a notice to provide the next-of-kin or have the money confiscated within
the next 14 - official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over nine (9) months now, I seek your consent to present you as
the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$20M can be paid to you and then you and I
can share the money, 50% to me and 50% for you. 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 transaction through. I guarantee that this will
be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me by my secured and confidential email address immediately to acknowledge the good receipt of this
message and please do not forget to send me your direct telephone number, so that I can put a call through to you for an
extensive discussion on this deal.

Anticipating your prompt response.

Yours Sincerely,

BAR. ROBERT SHELDON (ESQ).
Principal Partner
tel.#:+447031942690.
tel.#:+447031917488.
fax #:+448709127423.
PRIVATE MAIL ADDRESS: mailresponsemail@yahoo.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam