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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • bruce_anthony_smith400@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: bruce smith <brusmith_200@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <bruce_anthony_smith400@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2007 18:47:46 +0000
Subject: Attn:My good friend,



Attn:My good friend, I am Dr Bruce Anthony Smith from AUSTRALIA , Head of Department of Clinical pharmacology and Director of research, at the National Hospital Abuja Nigeria. I write to solicit your assistance in a project of mutual benefits. In February 2002, a research grant of US$12.5Million) was given to my department with me leading a team of other clinical pharmacologists, by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, to conduct a research on the effect of Sickle Cell Disease in Nigeria. The research has since been concluded (specifically in August 2003). Of the total amount given to us for the research purpose, we only expended US$7Million leaving a balance of US$5.5 Million. We are contacting you with a view to transferring this balance out for our own use. We have put in over 25 years of our lives into working for the government and as academics we do NOT have anything to show for it, hence this opportunity we see as a God-Sent one.Suffice it to say that Excellence is hardly rewarded in this part of the world due to ignorant leadership. We sincerely hope that you will be of assistance to us.I implore you to treat this mail very confidential as we are still active academicians,though retiring in the first quarter of next year. Upon receipt of your acceptance to assist us in this,we will negotiate on what should be your take from this amount as compensationary rights for your assistance to us. If interested in this venture, please send me your full names and address and your direct mobile phone for effective communication. If you are really capable and willing to assist me please contact me via this email for more information.

Email,bruce_anthony_smith400@yahoo.com I await your urgent response for Immediate processing of the transfer. Sincrely yours, Dr Bruce Anthony Smith (H.O.D)
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam