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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
  (+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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum 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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +2348033899939 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "drlucasudo_011@theprojectorpros.com" <drlucasudo_011@theprojectorpros.com> (may be fake)
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2006 10:40:40 -0600
Subject: Urgent Reply Needed


FROM THE DESK OF,
Dr Lucas Udo
DUDU CHAMBERS AND ASSOCIATE
(LEGAL PRACTITIONERS)
IKEJA, LAGOS NIGERIA.
PHONE: +234-8033899939
EMAIL: lucasudo@medicinatv


Attention;Sir,

I crave your indulgence for the unsolicited nature of this letter, but it was
borne out of desperation and current development. Please bear with me. I am
Dr Lucas Udo, a solicitor at law. A client of mine Mr. Louis Harry, who used
to own an oil servicing company in Nigeria and his wife and their three
Children were among the victims of an explosion in Lagos Bomb Blast, Nigeria.
which, claimed many lives and property on the 27th January 2002 without
leaving any trace of a relative/next of kin. For more clarifications, See the
2 website of the bomb blast explosion below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2698081.stm

I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives
who can come along to lay claim to the huge sum of money he Lodged with the
bank here in Nigeria but this has proved unsuccessful. I only did so to be
double sure of this fact.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 4 years now.
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased because
you are foriegner.There is no risk involved since 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 a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me by my email: (lucasudo@medicinatv.com) so that i
can call you on phone to enable us discuss more or you call me on my direct
line +234-8033899939.

I look forward to your urgent response.

Best regards,
Dr Lucas Udo,
Solicitor and Advocate.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam