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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Thompson K George"<tj_va_lw@excite.com>
Reply-To: thompsonkgeorge1133@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 09:52:29 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: About Mr Charles Jone








Dear Friend,



I am Barrister Thompson K George, the personal Attorney to Mr.Charles Jones a

foreigner who used to work with BMW Rockingham here in England.



On the 2nd of August 2003, my client, his wife and their three children were

involved in a car accident along Gatwick Express Road,All occupants of

the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.



Since then I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my client?s extended

relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.



After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member

of his family but of no avail,hence I contacted you.



I have contacted you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind



by my client before they got confiscated or declared unserviceable by the

Finance House where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the

Finance House where the deceased had an account valued at about

US$20.7M has issued me a notice to provide the next-of-kin or have the

account confiscated within the next Forteen official working days.



Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over nine



(9) months now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to

the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$20.7M can be

paid to you and then you and I can share the money 55% to me and 40% to

you, while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may required.



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 transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under

a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the

law.



Awaits your prompt response.

Yours Sincerely,

Thompson K George Esq





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam