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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "god fearing " (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• 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.
  • jamesedward008@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: jamesedward@expandingplexplc.net
Reply-To: jamesedward008@yahoo.com.hk
Date:
Subject: REPLY NOW


Mr.James Edward
No 212 Idustrial layout
Lagos-Nigeria.=20

ATTN: Sir /Madam=20

Hello Sir,My name is Mr.James Edward.I work as an office assistant to=20
regional manager of (ECOBANK). There was an account opened in this bank=
in=20
1999 and since 2001 nobody has operated this account again. After going=
=20
through some old files in the records,I discovered that if I do not rem=
it=20
this money out urgently it would be forfeited for nothing.=20

The owner of this account is Mr.Morris Thompson, a foreigner, Business =
Man=20
and a Shell oil and gas Company, a Geologist by profession who died in =
2000.=20
No other person knows this account or anything concerning it, the accou=
nt=20
has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that=
this=20
company does not know anything about this account and the money involve=
d is=20
fifteen million (US$ 15 Million)=20

I am only contacting you as a foreigner because this money can not be=20
approved to a local bank here, but can only be approved to any foreign=20
account because the money is in United States Dollars and the former ow=
ner=20
Mr. Morris Thompson is a foreigner too.I know that this message will co=
me to=20
you as surprise as we don=92t know ourselves before. We will sign an=20
agreement, but be sure that it is real and a genuine business. You can =
view=20
the web site bellow for more information on our late=20
client.http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/ with=
=20
believe in God that you will never let me down in this business, consid=
ering=20
my position as a public servant. You are the only person that I have=20
contacted in this business; so please reply urgently so that I will inf=
orm=20
you the next step to take immediately.=20

Send also your private telephone and cell phone numbers.I have decided =
that=20
as soon as the money is fully gotten and confirmed in your account,i sh=
all=20
come down to your country for sharing.Now i am proposing that you shall=
=20
take,35% of the whole amount while you keep 60% for me while 5% will ke=
pt=20
aside to augument what we have expended to actualise this=20
tranasaction.Meanwhile, I am contacting you because of the need to invo=
lve a=20
foreigner with foreign account and foreign beneficiary.=20

I need your full co-operation to make this work fine because the manage=
ment=20
is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct=20
information of this account, which I will give to you as soon as you=20
indicate your sincerity to co-operate with me, and capability to handle=
such=20
amount in strict confidence and trust according to my instruction and a=
dvice=20
for our mutual benefit because this opportunity may never come again in=
my=20
life. I need a truthful and God fearing person in this business because=
I=20
dont want to make a mistake so I need your strong assurance and trust. =
With=20
my position in the office I dont want anything that will jeopardize my =
job=20
so I advice that we should make secrecy and confidentiality our primary=
=20
working condition, bearing in mind that I am a public servant=20

=2EI look forward to your earliest reply,to confirm receipt of this mai=
l now,=20
and email: jamesedward008@yahoo.com.hk immediately.=20

Yours sincerely,=20

Mr.James Edward=20

REPLY NOW=20

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam