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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2289612288 (Togo, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: JAMES MBA <jmba003@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <jmba_associate@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2007 19:11:13 +0000
Subject: YOUR INHERITANCE CLAIM................WARDELL



FROM BARRISTER JAMES MBA
ATTORNEY AT LAW LOME-TOGO PHONE NO +228 961 22 88


Attention: WARDELL

I am Barrister James Mba,a solicitor and attorney at law.I am the personal attorney to my late client Engr.J.C WARDELL,a national of your Country, who used to work as a contract with Shell Petroleum Development Company in Togo, herein after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2005, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu express road, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this was unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet,to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.I am contacting you to assist in repartrating the money and 3500g of alluvial Gold dust that was left behind by my client before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged. Now the Bank, where the deceased had an account valued at about US$15.5 million dollars with 1500g of alluvial Gold dust has issued me a notice to Provide the Next of Kin or have the account confisicated.

Since I have been unsuccesfully in locating the relatives for Over 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin of the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$15.5 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money depending on the sharing ratio agreed. I can procure all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim includes the 850 alluvial Gold dust deposited with the bank too.
All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect both parties from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me through my above E-mail address to enable us discuss further, and also, you are advice to furnish me with your telephone number including your fax number, your mobile phone as well including your date of birth and place of birth and your proffession and your full contact address.

Best regards,

Barrister James Mba
Phone +228-9612288
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam