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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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• 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:

• 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)
  • "million us 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • barr_raymond@walla.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Raymond Udo" <barrrrudo@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:06:54 -0700
Subject: I need your asisstance


Dear friend,

Firstly,i must solicite your confidence in this transaction.I know that a
transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprenhensive,but be assured
that at the end all concerned would smile.I decided to contact you due to
the urgency of this transaction.Let me introduce myself. I am
Barr.RaymondUdo, Manager, Ray & co. law chambers
Nigeria.I got your contact via my private search and decided to ask for your
personal involvement because of the volume of your business.

THE PROPOSITION: A Foreigner,Late Mr Peter Creek an Expertriate engineer,who
is involved in oil merchant/contractor with the Federal Government of
Nigeria. Late Mr Peter Creek is my client, until His death over two years
ago in a ghastly car accident On 8th of march 2005, This client of mine
lost his life in a ghastly motor accident, Involved in the accident was his
wife and son.
This client of mine held a personal current account valued at $18.8 million
US dollars in Nigerian bank here,As indicated by jurisdiction of section
233(4) of the Nigeria financial act of 1999 , states thus "in the demise of
an account Holder/bearer, the next of kin as stated in the account form
reserves the unrestrained right to take posession of the said asset after
all due confirmations and proof of death of the account holder/bearer.

As his attorny,All efforts by me to contact any of his relatives proved
unsuccesful.As a result of this, the Board of Directors of the bank are
about to place the fund as"UNCLAIMAMBLE"
In order to prevent this, I now seek your assistance to have you stand in as
the beneficiary's next of kin, to claim the fund which he deposited in
Nigerian bank here before the bank will place it UNCLAIMAMBLE.

I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up
for claim. All I require from you is your honesty and cooperation to enable
us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the
law,and please note that this Proposal is 100% risk free on your side.
The fund will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 65%
for me which i will invest under your care in your country, 30% of the total
fund when remitted would be your share for your assistance and 5% will be
set aside for any expense on either sides during the course of this
transaction.
If this proposal is acceptable by you,please send your urgent reply to my
private email box: barr_raymond@walla.com

Best Regards,
Barr.Raymond Udo.(SAN)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam