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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)
  • "million british pounds" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • dr_sbennetprivate@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr.Steve Bennett" <martinwaghorn17@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: dr_sbennetprivate@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2008 14:24:59 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From:Dr.Steve Bennett


From:Dr.Steve Bennett
Alpha Bank London Ltd
66 Cannon St. London

My Dear Friend,

I am Dr.Steve Bennett, the Auditor and head of computing department of Alpha Bank Ltd here in London main branch. I have an urgent business suggestion for you. One of our clients/personal friend Late Mr. Edward Han,who was a foreigner and the Manager of Petol Chemical Services UK here in London, a chemical engineer by profession. Late Mr. Edward Han an American Citizen who was a private business man unfortunately lost his life in an automobile accident on January 31st 2000, including his wife and his only daughter.

After further investigation it was also discovered that Late Mr. Edward Han's next of kin is his daughter who died with him, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proves to me as well that his company does not know anything about this account and the amount involved is (£20,000,000.00 GB) Twenty Million British Pounds Sterling Only, this account was opened in this bank in 1999 has not been operated for the past 7 years now and if i do not remit this money out urgently, it will be forfeited for nothing.

I am contacting you to stand and act as the next of kin to Mr. Edward Han, because the management of my bank is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has the correct information to this account, which i will give to you when sure of your capability to handle such amount in strict confidence and trust.At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 35% of the total amount, while 60% will be for me, while 5% will be for expenses, both parties might have incurred during the process of this transaction. Your Full Name,Contact Address,Phone/fax number and Occupation will be necessary for this effect.I await your response so as for us to proceed with the transaction.If you are interested, please reply me immedietaly to my private address [dr_sbennetprivate@yahoo.com.hk] I am looking forward to hear from you.

Sincerely yours

Yours Truly,

Dr.Steve Bennett.
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam