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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
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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 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. )
  • "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (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 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.
  • williams_mma@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: mma williams <mma_william03@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <williams_mma@yahoo.fr>
Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 04:16:33 +0100
Subject: Please I will appreciate your quick response



WILLIAMS CHAMBERS
28e Josep Broz Tito Avenue
Accra, Ghana


STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Friend,

I really regret any embarrassment this mail might cause you, as we have never by any chance met before. I am writing in respect of a mutually beneficial matter to both of us, I am Barrister Williams, a solicitor. I am the private Attorney to Mr. Victor Neumann, who used to work as a contractor in the delta region of Ghana. On the 21st of April 2001, my client, his wife and their children were involved in a car accident along Kumasi Express Road. Unfortunately all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my late client's relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to locate any person that will help me to get the fund out hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my late client before they are declared unserviceable by the commercial bank in Republic du Benin where the deceased had an account valued at about USD4.8 Million. The Bank has already issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the money transferred to the country board of internal revenue as stipulated by the country law.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for all these years, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased. The proceeds of this account will be paid to you and then you and I can share the money, 70% & 30% both ways. I can provide all necessary legal documents that will be submit to the bank to back up the claims, I know that it might be difficult but it will be done. All I require is your absolute sincerity and confidentiality to enable us see this business through.

I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. It is 100% Risk-free and the transfer will be done according to Republic du Benin banking laws and monetary policies Please get in touch with me by my alternative email address: williams_mma@yahoo.fr with your phone and fax number so that we can discuss better.

Best regards,

Mr. Williams (Esq.)





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam