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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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 british pounds" (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)
  • "u.k " (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • joseph_uwakweodo@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "joseph_uwakweodo2 Gazeta.pl" <joseph_uwakweodo2@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:57:14 +0100
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE


Hello,

I am Mr.Joseph Uwakwe Odo, the personal accounts managing officer to Mr.
Morgan Russeter, a geologist, who lived and worked with the British
International Institute of Miners here in London U.K whom shall be referred
to as my client. On the 20th of June 2005, my client, his wife and their
only daughter were involved in a ghastly motor accident along N1 Preston
highway road South London. All occupants of their vehicle unfortunately lost
their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to locate any of my
client's extended relatives, but this has proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts to trace late Mr. Russeter's
extended relatives or locate any member of his family, I decided to contact
you. I have contacted you to assist me in repatriating the money and
property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposit were lodged. The Barclays
bank of London where the deceased had an account valued at about £2.6
Million British Pounds Sterling has issued me a notice as his accounting
officer to provide his next of kin or have his account confiscated within
the next fourteen (14) official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over a year
now, I seek your consent to present you to the bank as the next of kin of my
deceased client, so that the account valued at £2.6 million British Pounds
can be paid to you and then, you and me can share the money. I have all
necessary legal documents that can be used to back up our claim we may 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 protect you and me from any breach of law.

Send your immediate response to this email (joseph_uwakweodo@yahoo.co.uk)
for more explanation: I would want to have your telephone number for more
elaborate discussion.

Best Regards.
Joseph Uwakwe Odo (Mr).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam