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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "from the desk of" (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. )
  • "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 us 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)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "james obi" <james.jamesobi.obi@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:50:37 -0700
Subject: BE THE NEXT OF KIN


FROM THE DESK OF JAMES OBI
JAMES OBI & ASSOCIATES.
No. 20, BURMA ROAD,APAPA,
LAGOS - NIGERIA.



Dear Sir/Madam,


My name is Barrister James Obi {SAN} . I am the personal Attorney to late
Engineer Warren a National of your country, who used to work
withshellDevelopment company in Nigeria Here in after shall be referred to
as my client On MAY 6th 2003, my client, his wife, and their three children
were nvolved in a car accident along Sagamu express way.



All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I
have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients
extended Relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.



After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his l ast name
overthe Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.

I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money deposited by my client
before they the bank confiscated or declared nserviceable by the bank
wherethis huge deposits were lodged, particularly the Bank.



Where the deceased had an account Valued at about ($16 Million US Dollars)
has Issued me a notice to provide the next of kin. Orhave the account
confiscated within the next ten official workingdays. ]



Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now, I seek your consentto present you as the next of kin of the deceased
since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account
valued at ($16 Million U S Dollars can be paid to you and then you and me
Can share the money.60% for me and 40% for you.



I will revalidated and notarize all the necessary legal documents that can
be used to back up any claim wemay make.



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 rotect you fromany breach of the law. If this proposal is accepted by
you.



1.Your full name and address
2 Your tel and fax number and call me on above telephone number to enable me
prepare letter of claim and apply to Bank before I will go to Federal
Ministry of justice to secure all legal and official documents with your
nameas the next of kin to enable the bank release this fund to you Send the
information require to proceed.



Best Regards
Barr James Obi

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam