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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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)
  • "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. )
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +31617639271 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • info_bas_hans03@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Bas Hans <info@admin.nl>
Reply-To: info_bas_hans03@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 09:50:46 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Greetings and compliments..


Dear Friend

Greetings and compliments.

I am Bas Hans, a solicitor at law. I was the personal attorney to
Eng. Gilbert M. Reain, a national of your country who used to work with
an oil servicing company here in the Netherlands thereof be referred to
as my client.

Eng. Gilbert M. Reain, 62 years of age made a fixed deposit of fund
valued at USD$12,500,000 (Twelve Million, Five Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars Only) with a Finance Company here in Europe and
unfortunately lost his life in an Egyptian charter plane Boeing 737
which crashed
into the Red Sea early on January 3 shortly after taking off

from the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all the 135 passengers and
13 crew members aboard, Ref:
(View:http://english.people.com.cn/200401/04/eng20040104_131791.shtml).

He left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents
related to the deposit still in my possession.
Recently, the governing body of the Finance Company contacted me on
this matter, requesting that I should notify the next of kin of my late
client to claim the funds and I am yet to provide the Next of Kin to
lay
claims to the Fund.


I know that my client had no living next of kin but I went ahead and
made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my late
client's
extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful. Under a clear and
legitimate
agreement with you, I seek your consent to present you as the next of
kin, so that my late client's funds will not be confiscated by the
Finance Company.


You and I can share the money, you will be entitled to 40% of the total
fund for your role as the relative and next of kin of my late client,
50% for me while 10% is to be map out for any expenses that will be
incurred during the clearance or process of transfer of the fund to
your
bank account. Be informed that there is no risk involved as all
necessary legal documents that will be used to back you up as the legal
beneficiary and next of kin of my late client will be procured.

All I require is your sincerity, honesty; co-operation and utmost good
faith to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the

law. Kindly, get in touch with me by my
e-mail(info_bas_hans03@yahoo.com.hk
) or telephone to enable us discuss further. You may also send your
telephone number so that I can call you.

Do not forget that a transaction of this magnitude requires utmost
Confidentiality and sincerity.
I look forward to your urgent response.

Thank you,
Regards
Mr Bas Hans.
Phone: 0031-617-639-271
Fax: 0031-847-181-615
Email: info_bas_hans03@yahoo.com.hk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam