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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "any lucrative business in your country" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "JACK OWEN" <jackowen64@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: ojackowen2007@aol.com
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:07:58 +0000
Subject: GOOD DAY

This is a proposal in context but actually an appeal soliciting your unreserved assistance in consummating an urgent transaction requiring maximum confidence.Though this approach appears desperate, I can assure you that whatever questions you would need to ask or any other thing you will need to know regarding this proposal will be adequately answered to give you a clearer understanding of it, so as to arrive at a successful conclusion.
I am Barr. Jack Owen, Attorney and Solicitor. THE PROPOSITION: My late client, Mr. Morris Thompson who is an Oil consultant contractor with CPL Petroleum had in a Bank the sum of 15 M EURO in a domiciliary account who died on plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31 2000,including his wife and only daughter leaving nobody to claim the money.
He named his wife, as the next of kin. Unfortunately, two of them died in a plane crash.He had a closing balance worth EURO15,000.000.00 (FIFTEEN Million EURO) with a bank in IRELAND.
Since the tragic incident involving late Morris Thompson and his family, the bank has waited for to Five years for a next of kin as beneficiary with no success.Valuable efforts have been made by the bank management and myself to get in touch with any of his Direct or Extended family Members but I personally found out that he died with his wife and their daughter.
Since it is the Law in Ireland that at the expiration of seven years, the funds will be marked unclaimable and reverted to the ownership of the Ireland Government if nobody applies to claim the fund, I am taking this advantage in order to better my life and that of my family. I am now seeking your permission and assistance to have you stand as next of kin to late Morris Thompson, so that the money is released to you as the next of kin.
All documents and proof to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out by me because all are in my custody.
I am assuring you that this transaction and its procedures is 100% legal and risk free involvement. Your share stays while the rest will be for me. The sharing of the fund between the two of us will be as follows; 30% of the total sum will go to you for your effort and commitment to the success of this transaction. 60% will be for me, and the balance of 10% for the settlement of all local and foreign expenses incurred in the course of this Transaction. Upon the successful completion of this transfer, I will come to meet with you for disbursements in the ratio as stated above, and invest my share in any lucrative Business in your country subject to your kind advice.
As soon as I receive an acknowledgement of the receipt of this message in Acceptance, I will immediately start up with the process of claim. If this proposal is acceptable by you, kindly reply me immediately you get this mail.
I want you to also furnish me with the following information:
1. Your private telephone/fax or preferably your mobile numbers.
2. Your full names and address.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated co-operation. I shall give you more details on what we are to do to claim
the Fund without any hitch. Note:This transaction must be kept STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL and TOP SECRET because of its nature.
I look forward to receiving your prompt response.
Yours Truly,
Barrister Jack Owen.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam