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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Masao Chen" <masao@me.by>
Reply-To: cmasao@yahoo.dk
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 06:42:07 -0700
Subject: BUSINESS OFFER


Dear Sir,
I hope you give due consideration to this letter before you discard it as a
hoax.
My name is Masao Chen, Account Reconciliation Officer with a finance firm in
United Kingdom In my possession is information of fund belonging to late
African diplomat.
Recently, we received a circular from the commission chairman requesting the
return of all unclaimed funds to the Treasury. This is in accordance with
the Federal banking Laws and constitution, which stipulates that any
unclaimed fund or asset for a given period of time will be reverted back to
the ownership of the Government. (
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,2030931,00.html).
Consequently, I shall present you as a foreigner to stand in as the business
partner to the late Diplomat nominated by him as his next of kin, upon
acceptance of this proposal; I shall give you detailed information on how
this deal would be carried out. We shall employ the services of a solicitor
for the drafting of the letter of probate in your favour, and to obtain all
other relevant papers in your name for the necessary documentation for
payment approval by commission.

The money will be shared in the ratio: sixty-five percent for me, thirty
percent for you and five percent for any arising contingencies during the
course of this transaction. I guarantee that this will be executed under
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law, as
I will use my position in the commission to facilitate the approvals and
guarantee the successful execution of this transaction.
Please be informed that your utmost confidentiality is required. If this
interests you reply me immediately, and include your private telephone
number for voice contact and fax number so I can provide you with more
details and relevant documents that will help you understand the
transaction.

I look forward to hear from you urgently

Best Regards

Masao Chen

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam