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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:
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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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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.
  • +23418536329 (Nigeria, landline)
• 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.
  • barr_wbaba2008@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister Babatunde Williams." <wbaba9@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <barrwbaba2008@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 15:16:19 +0100
Subject: CAN U BE THE NEXT OF KIN



Dear friend , I am Barrister Babatunde Williams a Solicitor. I am the Personal Attorney to Micheal, a FOREIGNER who was a textile merchant. On the 21st of April 2002, my client,his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagbama 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 has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet,to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you .
I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and properties left behind by my late client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposit were lodged.Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $14.5 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next 14 official working days. since i have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2years 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 $14.5million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money 55% to me and 40% to you, while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claims we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me by my private email address below to enable us discuss further. Best regards. Barrister Babatunde Williams. Tell:234-1-8536-329N B: REPLY TO barr_wbaba2008@yahoo.com
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam