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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "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)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • 3dsmat_okon2006@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "smat okon" <smatokon2006@latinmail.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 21:31:24 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: NEXT OF KIN


FROM Barrister Smat Okon,
Smat Okon AND ASSOCIATE,
PUBLIC NOTARY SOLICITORS &ADVOCATE
NO:12 ELIAS CLOSE
5TH FLOOR VICTORIA ISLAND
LAGOS NIGERIA.
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.
GOOD DAY dear Sir/madam.

I AM BARRISTER SMAT OKON SOLICITOR. I AM THE=20
PERSONAL ATTORNEY TO MR THOMAS ANINDYA, A NATIONAL OF YOUR=20
COUNTRY, WHO USED TO WORK WITH SHELL DEVELOPMENT=20
COMPANY IN NIGERIA.ON THE 2ND OF MAY 1999, MY CLIENT,=20
HIS WIFE AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN WERE INVOLVED IN A=20
CAR ACCIDENT ALONG SAGBAMA EXPRESS ROAD. ALL OCCUPANTS=20
OF THE VEHICLE UNFORTUNATELY LOST THERE LIVES. SINCE=20
THEN I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ENQUIRIES TO YOUR EMBASSY TO A=20
LOCATE ANY OF MY CLIENTS EXTENDED RELATIVES, THIS HAS=20
ALSO PROVED UNSUCCESSFUL.=20

AFTER THESE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS, I DECIDED=20
TO TRACE HIS RELATIVES OVER THE INTERNET, TO LOCATE=20
ANY MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY BUT OF NO AVAIL, HENCE I=20
CONTACTED YOU. I HAVE CONTACTED YOU TO ASSIST IN=20
REPARTRATING THE MONEY THAT BELONG TO MY CLIENT BEFORE=20
THEY GET CONFISICATED OR DECLARED UNSERVICEABLE BY THE=20
BANK WHERE THIS HUGE DEPOSITS WERE LODGED.=20
PARTICULARLY, THE BANK WHERE THE DECEASED HAD AN=20
ACCOUNT VALUED AT ABOUT $30MILLION DOLLARS HAS ISSUED=20
ME A NOTICE TO PROVIDE THE NEXT OF KIN OR HAVE THE=20
ACCOUNT CONFISICATED WITHIN THE NEXT TEN OFFICIAL=20
WORKING DAYS. SINCE I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESFULL IN=20
LOCATING THE THE RELATIVES FOR OVER 3 YEARS NOW I SEEK=20
YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN OF THE=20
DECEASED SINCE YOU ARE FROM THE SAME COUNTRY AND BEAR=20
THE SAME LAST NAME ,SO THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THIS=20
ACCOUNT VALUED AT $30 MILLION DOLLARS CAN BE PAID TO=20
YOU AND THEN YOU AND ME CAN SHARE THE MONEY. 55% TO ME=20
AND 40% TO YOU,WHILE 5% SHOULD BE FOR EXPENSES OR TAX=20
AS YOUR GOVERNMENT MAY REQUIRE, I HAVE THE ERTIFICATE=20
OF DEPOSIT THAT CAN BE USED TO BACK UP ANY CLAIM WE=20
MAY MAKE. ALL I REQUIRE IS YOUR HONEST COOPERATION TO=20
ENABLE US SEE THIS DEALT THROUGH.=20

I GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL BE EXECUTED UNDER A=20
LEGITIMATE ARRANGEMENT THAAT WILL PROTECT YOU FROM ANY=20
BREACH OF THE LAW.PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME BY MY=20
EMAIL=3Dsmat_okon2006@yahoo.com TO ENABLE US DISCUSS FURTHER.=20
I WILL OBTAIN AFFIDAVIT FROM COURT WHEN YOU RESPONS=20
TO ME.=20
BEST REGARDS,
ESQ:SMAT OKON

Descubre el poder latino en el Mes de la Hispanidad http://www.starmedi=
a.com/noticias/especiales/hispanos.html

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam