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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:

• 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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "inheritance funds" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2347033456432
• 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.
  • mrmarkwilliams@rocketmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Mrmark=20Williams?= <mrmarkwilliams@rocketmail.com>
Reply-To: privatattorneymarkwilliams@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 11:21:08 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: treat as a matter of urgent


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:mrmarkwilliams@rocketmail.com



- Dear Sir/Madam, It is with great hope and mutual interest that i decide to write you in regards to an unclaimed inheritance funds. Let me introduce my self, I am Attorney Mark C. Williams’ from London, UK' but present in Nigeria, West Africa. I am the Personal Attorney to the late Professor John W. Benson, a national of your Country. I got your contact through the help of my sister-in-law that works with the American/African Chambers of Commerce and Tourism, due I did not disclose to her my humble intention for an honest foreigner like you. The late Professor John W. Benson' passed away in a Plane Crash with his entire family and he left a Fixed Deposit worth of US$15 Million, with Uco Trust Finance Bank. Particularly, the Uco Trust Finance has issued me a notice of two (2) weeks to provide the next of kin to the deceased or they will have the account confiscated to the Department of Treasury as Unclaimed Inheritance Funds in Nigeria. I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law and all the entire funds will be transferred to you as the next of kin. After the transfer, you will take 100% as the true heir and pay me what ever that please you as the Attorney to the deceased. I want you to forward the below data’s, to enable the Uco Trust Finance Bank contact you as the next of kin. (A). Your full name & Contact Address.(B). Your Telephone & Identification.(C). Your Age & Occupation.I humbly apologies to you and whom ever it may concern if this proposal offends your moral and ethic values, but please reply urgently if you are interested to work with me. I have in my position a copy of Certificate of Deposit & Certificate of Will, to prove that your late uncle deposited the above mentioned funds with Uco Trust Finance Bank. Please call me now for more details. Thanks and God bless you and your family. Here i remain, Attorney Mark C. Williams Mobile: +2347033456432

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam