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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
  • "cotonou" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "willy tom" <thompson@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: tomas_tom_willy@babbalu.com
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 14:43:46 +0000
Subject: TOM WILLY AND ASSOCIATES GET BACK NOW


* TOMWILLY AND ASSOCIATES
* (*ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS AT LAW)
FEDERAL HIGH COURT **GHANA**
* *WHITE-HOUSE** BUILDING ,
SPINTEX ROAD,ACCRA-GHANA
*
*Compliments!*
**
*I barrister Thomas Willy have decided to bestow this trust on you, which I
pray you will not ignore or betray. I apologize in advance for any
inconveniences this may cause you. I am the Personal Attorney to late
Mr. Idris Ferron who was a contractor in Benin Republic . Who on December
2003 with his entire family perished in the Air-Crash on board From Cotonou*
**
*http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm*<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3348109.stm>
* *
**
*As a matter of fact, my client made a fixed deposit Amount, valued at Ten
million five hundred thousand US Dollar (10,500,000.00 USD) with a Bank here
in **Accra-Ghana**, and upon the duration time of their agreement, his bank
started contacting him but no response. Consequently, the Bank issued me a
notice to provide the next of kin to the deceased as his personal attorney
or have his account confiscated after four years as it is in the law of the
country. *
**
*Since then, I have made several contacts to His Country's Embassy in order
to locate any of my clients extended relatives which had also been
unsuccessful. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for
over Three years now.*

*I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since
none of his relatives were no where to be found so that the proceeds of this
account valued at (10,500,000.00 USD) could be transferred into your account
since you have the same last name, thereafter, we will both share it in
percentage according to our contributions to boost the success of this great
transaction. *

*All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us making this great
benefiting transaction successfully. 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 as fast as possible If you are interested
to work out this transaction with me. Also to enable us discuss further the
progress of this business. This is my direct Mobile number;+233-246324750.*
**
*With best wishes,
Thomas Willy (Esq)
Senior advocate of Ghana.
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam