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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:
  • "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. )
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • "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)
  • "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • johneso@jmail.co.za (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: John Eso <johneso@jmail.co.za>
Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 17:10:07 +0800
Subject: Attn:Sir/Ma


FROM BARRISTER JOHN ESO 101 PEPPLE CLOSE, ALLEN IKEJA LAGOS NIGERIA.
Email:johneso@jmail.co.za Attn:Sir/Ma, First, I must solicit your
confidence in this transaction; this is by virtue of its nature as
being utterly confidential and top secret. Though I know that a
transaction of this magnitude will make anyone apprehensive and
worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the
day.I have decided to contact you due to the urgency of this
tansaction. I am Barister John Eso(Solicitor). I am the Personal
Attorney to MRS.ROSEMARY SMITH a foreign national of America, who died
in world trade centre as victims of the september 11,2001.Incident
that befall the United State of America,you can confirm through this
website:
http://www.september11victims.com/september11Victims/victims_list.htm
http://www.september11victims.com/september11victims/VictimInfo.asp?ID%10
Since then I have made several enquiries to different embassy to
locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved
unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to
trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his
family but of no avail, hence I contacted you.I have contacted you to
assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client
before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Finance
House where this huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Finance
House where the deceased had valuable amount of US$28 million dollars
has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account
confiscated. And Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the
relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you as
the next of kin of the deceased since you are a foreigner as well so
that the proceeds of this account valued US$28 million dollars can be
paid to you as his next of Kin and then you and i can share the money
dus:- 40% to you and 55% for me, while 5% should be for expenses or
tax as your government may require. I have all necessary legal
documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make, all I
require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction
through. And I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Please
get in touch with me by my email to enable us discuss further.
Anticipating your favourable response. Best regards, Barrister John
Eso. Email:johneso@jmail.co.za NOTE:PLEASE REPLY TO THIS
EMAIL:johneso@jmail.co.za

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam