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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "million british pounds" (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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: kwilliams_banker@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 20:07:05 +0200
Subject: PERSONAL


Greetings Dear ,=0D
=0D
PRIVATE AND URGENT =0D
=0D
I am a staff member of United Trust Bank London. With all due respect, I a=
m writing following an opportunity in my office that will be of immense ben=
efit to both of us. In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of 10.5=
million British Pounds Sterling (Ten million five hundred thousand British =
Pounds) in an account that belong to one of our foreign customers Late Mr. =
Morris Thompson who unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Alas=
ka Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31 2000, including his wife=
and only daughter. You shall read more about the crash on visiting this si=
te.=0D
http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/ =0D
Now the bank has been waiting for any of the relatives to come-up for the =
claim but nobody has done that.I personally has been unsuccessful in locati=
ng the relatives for 4 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the=
next of kin/ Will Beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this=
account valued at 10.5Million British Pounds can be paid to you. This will=
be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to you. I w=
ill secure all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any cl=
aim we may make. All I require is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality=
and Trust to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee you that =
this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you =
from any breach of the law. =0D
Please, provide me the following:=0D
1. Full Name=0D
2. Your Telephone Number =0D
3. Your Contact Address.=0D
Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.=0D
Best regards,=0D
Ken Williams=0D
=0D

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam