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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
  • "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.
  • +31616729060 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • peter_van_smith2@yahoo.dk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <peter_van_smith2@yahoo.dk>
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2007 11:24:32 +1000
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL MATTER

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister Peter Van Smith, a solicitor at law. I was the personal
attorney to Eng, John McPherson,
a national of your country who used to work with an oil servicing company
here in Amsterdam-Netherlands
after which be referred to as my client.

Eng, John McPherson 62 years of age made a fixed deposit of fund valued at
USD$18,500,000
(Eighteen Million,Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) with a
Security Company/Finance Firm
here in Europe and unfortunately lost his life in an Egyptian charter plane
Boeing 737 which crashed into
the Red Sea early on January 3 shortly after taking off from the resort of
Sharm el-Sheikh,
killing all the 135 passengers and 13 crew members aboard, Ref:
(View: http://english.people.com.cn/200401/04/eng20040104_131791.shtml). He
left no clear beneficiary as
Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the deposit still in my
possession.

Recently, the governing body of the Security Company/Finance Firm contacted
me on this matter, requesting
that I should notify the next of kin of my late client to claim the funds
and I am yet to provide the Next
of Kin to lay claims to the Fund. I know that my client had no living next
of kin but I went ahead
and made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my late clients
extended relatives but this has
proved unsuccessful.Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you.

I seek your consent to present you as the next so that my late client's
fund will not be confiscated by the
Security Company.

You and I can share the money, you will be entitled to 50% of the total
fund for your role as the relative
and next of kin of my late client, 40% for me while 10% is to be marked out
for any expenses that will be incurred
during the clearance or process of transfer of the fund to your bank
account.

Be informed that there is no risk involved as all necessary legal documents
that will be used to back you up as
the legal beneficiary and next of kin of my late client will be procured.

All I require is your sincerity, honesty,co-operation and utmost good
faiths 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.
Kindly, get in touch with me by my e-mail ( peter_van_smith2@yahoo.dk ) or
telephone to enable us discuss

further.You may also send your telephone number so that I can call you.Do
not forget that a
transaction of this magnitude require utmost confidentiality and sincerity.


I look forward to your urgent response.

Thank you,
Peter Van Smith
Tel:+31-616 729 060

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam