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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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.
  • +22997270847 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: b_wilson0001@internet.lu
Date: Tue, 06 Feb 2007 20:19:56 +0100
Subject: Barrister Wilson Dara

Dear ,

I am Barrister Wilson Dara .I am the Personal Attorney to one Mr.Alexander, he died in an aircrash that occured on the 30th of September 2006 involving Gol Airlines in Brazil, Sadly all his family lost thier lives in the aircrash.(http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1884877,00.html)

His Bank have been written me several times to locate his next of kin urgently to claim his money deposited in the Bank since his wife who happen to be the next kin also died in the crash.

The Bank told me that the money would be confiscated if no body comes to claim the money soon. They said is their Banking Policy.

Since then I have searched for his relatives without any success. I therefore
like to seek your approval to present you as his next of kin since you bear the same surname, so that the proceeds of this account valued at $5.3 million can be paid to you
and then you and I can share it into 2 equal parts.

You will also help me to invest my own share when we finally secures the money.

I promise that every step to be taken in claiming this money would be done legally since I am a Lawyer.

I expect your response so we can move ahead to claim this money urgently

Best Wishes,

Barrister Wislon Dara
Tel: +229 97 27 08 47

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam