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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:
  • "money transfer control number" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "transfer into your account" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Western Union money transfer is completely untraceable and therefore is *not* safe to use with anyone you do not know personally. It is the preferred method of online criminals to collect money from their victims.

Fraud email example:

From: "GRACE SMITH" <grace.smith.anna@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 02 Oct 2006 05:55:28 -0800
Subject: GOOD DAY

Dear Rozomund Mullmacher,

 

I just wish to let you know the out come of getting the marriage certificate as I told you that I will be going to the court with the information which you provided so I can meet with a lawyer who will obtain the marriage certificate on our behalf and notarize the marriage certificate so it will look authentic to the Bank and my late father attorney so they can release the funds to you.

 
I meet with a lawyer and I explained my situation and problems I am facing at tender age of mine right now and as I do not have any help from both parents as they are late now, I am very happy that he is willing to help us get the marriage certificate after I explained about my problems in respect of this claim, so he said to get this marriage certificate will cost us money that before anything he would have to check on your profile from the Court Java computerized system to check if you have any criminal records in the states, so I provide the following information as you have provided in your previous mail to me:

 

Ms Rozomund Mullmacher
Amselplatz 2 Reinbek
27666 Germany
Tel:+49 171-5165571
Fax:+49 171-7151971.

 
So, he made me understand that you are such a sincere and reliable person. He said to get the marriage certificate it would cost us a total sum £323 Pounds (Three Hundred and Twenty-Three Pounds). He said I should make sure I get the money either today or next, because he is a very busy person that I might not see again when I come back to look for him at the court for this purpose of getting the marriage certificate, so I noted his name, office address, private phone number and e-mail address, So, I promised him that I'll be back as soon possible, so I can contact you being my partner to claim this funds on my behalf to let you know how much it will cost us, So, I will know much you can raise.

Kindly send the marriage certificate fee through the lawyer office clerk with below information via western union money transfer:

Sunday Richard
79 Charing Cross Road, London,
WC2H 0NE
London England

 

As soon you make the transfer for the marriage certificate you are advice to get back to me with the following information according to the lawyer:

 
Senders full name & address
Receiver’s name
MTCN (Money Transfer Control number)
Text question & answer

 
As soon we provide this marriage certificate to my late father attorney he would get other documents which the Bank would like to see before the funds could be transfer to you, if the Bank verify the marriage certificate through Royal Crown Court of England, which is the court where the lawyer want to notarize the marriage certificate on our behalf, the funds will be transfer into your account within 72 hours as soon as they are through with there verification with the marriage certificate.

 
I will be waiting to hear from you with the transfer details, so I can take it to the lawyer to enable his office clerk to pick the money here in western union out let without any delay.

 
Best Regards
Grace Smith

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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam