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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
• 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.
  • usman_williams05@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: usman williams <usman_williams04@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <usman_williams05@yahoo.fr>
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2007 17:19:55 +0000
Subject: CONTACT INFORMATION NEEDED



FROM THE DESK OF:DR USMAN WILLIAMSINTERNATIONAL BANK OF AFRICA (IBA)BURKINA FASO.AFRICA.WEST COAST.BRANCH.Telephone +22676 65 92 92.{USD10,MILLION TO TRANSFER} Dear Sir/Madam, I am Dr USMAN WILLIAMS director incharge OF auditing departments INTERNATIONAL BANK OF Africa {IBA}. I have urgent and very confidentialbusiness proposal for you.An American Gold consultant/contractor withthe burkina faso west AfricanSolidGoldCorporation,mr MorrisThompsonmade a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months,valued at US$10,000,000.00 (TEN Million Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding addressbut got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the west African Solid Gold Corporation that Morris Thompson died in a plane crash in Alaska Airlines Flight 261(formore information about this crash and person you can contact this website:http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list since we got this information about his death. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL, andall attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation anddiscoveredthatMr MorrisThompson did not declare any next kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in the Bank. This sum of US$10,000,000.00 is still sitting in the Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.According to Laws of Republic OF BURKINA FASO, at the expiration of 4(four) years, the money will revert to the ownershipof the Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.Consequently, i am due to retire from office next year 2008, My proposal is that I will like you tp come in as a next kin/ foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr.Morris Thompson so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials.This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin.through thebank attorney as soon as you put application to the bank. We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL asthe bank will approve you as the next of kin and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide willthen facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin.The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 75% for me and 20% for you.then 5%will be map out for any expenses that may occure during transactions. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney as will employ him on the approval of the bank; i am notifying you this as a secret of mine, as a senior bank officer.i knew all what it takes to get this funds out of the bank. and my position and that of YOU qarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email address above. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant application letter that will help you understand the transaction.Please send me your confidential telephone and faxnumbers for easy communication.Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. Best Regard. Dr.USMAN WILLIAMS.Telephone +22676 65 92 92. (usman_williams05@yahoo.fr)
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam