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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Fred Ezzeh" <fredoezzeh9@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: fredezzeh@mail.ru
Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 03:59:27 +0000
Subject: Dear Battelle Please I need your consent.

Dear Battelle

Good day.

May I introduce myself and my purpose of contacting you. I am Barrister Fred
Ezzeh, The Principal Partner of a renowned law firm here in Lagos Nigeria. I
am obliged to contact you as instructed by one of my clients to search for a
trustworthy person who can honestly recieve and safeguard a huge amount of
money into his personal or bank account.

Please note that my client confided in me about an amount of US$20.5M which
he legitimately inheritted from his late father who until his death was a
notable politician in Nigeria. This amount of money is about to be seized
from my client by the government if something urgent is not done to
safeguard it in the custody of a neutral person like you; hence my
contacting you. Based on this fact, I on behalf of my client is seeking your
consent to HELP safeguard the money into your custody and subsequent use it
for investment in your country as you may advise later.

It is important I let you know that for your expected role in this
transaction, you will be generously compensated with 20% of the total sum. I
am obliged to assure you of your safety in the the transaction therefore I
encourage you not to have fear to give your full co-operation for the
execution of the transaction which hopefully shall be concluded with 14 days
or less.

You at liberty to think about it and confirm your interest then I will give
you the full details and the modalities of the transaction. However, if you
are not interest, do pardon me but I urge you to keep it secret. Upon reply,
kindly include your personal telephone and fax numbers for easier
communication.

While counting on your understanding, I look forward to recieving your
confirmation of interest.

Thanks in anticipation,

Yours faithfully,

Fred Ezzeh ESQ

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam