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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:
  • "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)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "MARK KEITH" <markkeith@biggymails.net>
Reply-To: markchambers_03@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 12:49:45 +0000
Subject: GREETING FROM MARK KEITH




FROM: MARK KEITH
MARK CHAMBERS
LONDON



Dear Sir / Ma,

I am Mark Keith, a private financial consultant. A personal financial / business consultant to Mr. Michael Cole, a foreigner who worked and died here in U.K. without A Will. I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my clients relatives immediate and extended, this has proved unsuccessful.

After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet and locate any member of his family but of no avail. Hence, I am contacting you. I need you to assist in securing the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where his huge deposits were lodged.
Particularly, the bank where the deceased had a domiciliary account valued (US$10M) Ten Million Dollars. The bank has issued a notice to provide the Next of Kin or have the account confiscated within the next one month.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since the proceeds of this account valued at US$10 Million can be paid to you and after which the fund can be shared according to agreement between both party that 50% shall go to me and 40% to you, 5% for charity, while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may requires.

I have all necessary documents to back up claims as Next of Kin on your behalf. All I require is your honest cooperation 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.
Please get in touch with me by email to enable us discuss further.

Best regards,

Mark Keith
LONDON

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam