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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.

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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)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
  • robmalfirm777@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Robert. .T. Malcolm" <billmail@purcell.biz>
Reply-To: robmalfirm777@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2007 06:14:32 -0800
Subject: hello

FROM THE OFFICE OF
BARRISTER ROBERT MALCOLM,
MALCOLM CHAMBERS LONDON UK
PRIVATE EMAIL:robmalfirm777@yahoo.com

I am Robert Malcolm, a solicitor, and the personal attorney to Mr. William
Caripides, who works with Kutner Associate in London, Herein referred as
my client.
On the 3rd of September 1998 at: 11:16 p.m. EDT (03:16 GMT, Swissair Jetliner,
with 229 passengers on board bound from New York JFK to Geneva, Switzerland,
crashed catastrophically off the coast of Nova Scotia vanishes from radar
near Nova Scotia Halifax. My client Mr. William Caripides, and his wife
Mrs. Gabriella Caripides, with their only child Peter Caripides, were involved
in a horrific flight crash, 215 passengers and 14 crewmembers unfortunately
lost their lives in the disastrous crash of Swissair Flight 111.May their
gentle souls rest in glorious peace Amen.

I have contacted you to assist me retrieving the funds in a certain investment
account of his valued at about US$18,500,000.00 (Eighteen Million Five Hundred
Thousand United State Dollars only) left behind by my client before they
got confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Finance House where these
huge deposits were lodged, Since his wife and kid whom are supposed to inherit
the fund are also involved in the air-crash and I have been unsuccessful
in locating any of my client relatives, I now seek your consent to present
you as the next of kin of the deceased so we can claim this fund together
and use some to assist the Tsunami/Kathryna Disaster victims. Upon my receipt
of your positive response, we shall then discuss the necessary modalities.
Subject to the confirmation of death of Mr. William Caripides and his family,
feel free to visit this website:

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/americas/9809/07/swissair.victims.list/index.html
I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up your claim
as the next-of-kin, all I require is your honest co-operation to enable
us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of
the law.

Please get in touch with me immediately you acknowledge the good receipt
of this mail via email. robmalfirm777@yahoo.com
Anticipating your prompt response.

Best Regards,
ROBERT MALCOLM (Esq)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam