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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "deadline" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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 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.
  • +447040185556 (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.
  • barristertommyedwards@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "cbn infocs" <cbninfocs@blackglobalnetwork.net>
Reply-To: barristertommyedwards@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 02:16:56 -0500
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION

FROM BARRISTER TOMMY EDWARDS
TOMMY EDWARDS & ASSOCIATE
LONDON-UNITED KINGDOM
TEL: +44-704-0185-556
E-MAIL: barristertommyedwards@yahoo.com.hk

DEAR SIR/MADAM,

I AM BARRISTER TOMMY EDWARDS AN ATTORNEY TO CHRISTIAN EICH MASON, A DECEASED IMMIGRANT, PROPERTY MAGNATE, WHO WAS BASED IN THE U.K., HEREIN, REFERRED TO AS MY CLIENT .ON THE 25TH OF JULY 2000, MY CLIENT, HIS WIFE AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN DIED IN THE AIR FRANCE CONCORD PLANE CRASH BOUND FOR NEW YORK ON THEIR WAY FOR A WORLD CRUISE.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN MANAGING HIS PROPERTIES HERE IN THE U.K. AND SOME OF HIS PROPERTIES, WHICH HE PUT OUT FOR SALE. WHICH I MONITORED AS HIS ATTORNEY, HAS BEEN BOUGHT AND SUBSEQUENTLY PAID INTO HIS ACCOUNT BEFORE HIS DEATH.

MEANWHILE, THE MONEY PAID WAS DEPOSITED INTO HIS LOCAL BANK ACCOUNT HERE IN LONDON. I AM CONTACTING YOU TO ASSIST ME IN REPATRIATING THE MONEY AND PROPERTY LEFT BEHIND BY MY CLIENT BEFORE THEY GET CONFISCATED OR DECLARED UNSERVICEABLE BY HIS BANK PARTICULARLY, NOW THAT THE BANK HAS ISSUED ME A NOTICE TO PROVIDE HIS NEXT OF KIN OR HAVE THE ACCOUNT CONFISCATED WITHIN A GIVEN TIME.

MY LATE CLIENT HAS AN ACCOUNT VALUED AT £6.5 MILLION POUNDS. SINCE I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING THE RELATIVES FOR SOME TIME NOW, AND WITH THE BANK GIVING ME A DEADLINE, I NOW SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN OF THE DECEASED, SO THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THIS ACCOUNT VALUED AT 6.5 MILLION POUNDS, CAN BE PAID TO YOU AND THEN YOU AND I CAN SHARE THE MONEY. 60% TO ME AND 40% FOR YOU.

I HAVE ALL NECESSARY INFORMATION THAT CAN BE USED TO BACK UP ANY CLAIM WE MAY MAKE. ALL I REQUIRE IS YOUR HONEST CO-OPERATION TO ENABLE CONCLUDE THIS DEAL THROUGH. I GUARANTEE YOU THAT THIS WILL BE EXECUTED UNDER A LEGITIMATE ARRANGEMENT THAT WILL PROTECT US FROM ANY BREACH OF THE LAW.

TRY AND GET IN TOUCH WITH ME FOR A MORE COMPREHENSIVE DETAIL.

BEST REGARDS,

BARRISTER TOMMY EDWARDS
TOMMY EDWARDS & ASSOCIATE
D/L: +44-704-0185-556

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam