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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • "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)
  • "keep it confidential" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr.Thomas Cole" <barrthomascoleesq42@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <barrthomcoleesq@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 10:39:54 +0000
Subject: Dear Friend.



Dear Friend,
Good day to you,I presume this letter will come to you as a surprise, but as things unfold,we will know each other better. I will start by introducing myself to you.My name is Barr.Thomas Cole, a solicitor at law. I am writing in respect of a foreigner who happens to be my client an oil merchant and contractor who perished in a plane crash of 31st October 1999[WITH EGYPTIAN AIRLINE 990] with other passengers aboard as you can confirm it yourself through the website:http://www.cnn.com/US/9910/31/egyptair.03/Since the demise of my client I personally have watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of USD$4.5m (Four Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) and all the relevant documents in the bank has no record of any next of kin. On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as his next of kin so i have contacted you to assist in repatriating most especially, the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where the huge deposits were lodged.Particularly, the Finance Company where the deceased had a Deposit valued at about Usd$4.5 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the Next of kin, or have the account confiscated.I seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin of the deceased since you bear the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at Usd$4.5 million dollars can be paid to you, as my late client's Next of Kin, and then we can share the amount on a mutual agreed percentage.All legal documents to back up your claim as the deceased Next of Kin will be provided. 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 and you should endeavor to keep it confidential.Please get in touch with me, to enable us discuss further about this transaction.Best regards,Barr.Thomas Cole.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam