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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)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "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: "Barr Fred Mbah" <fredmbah1@beehive.org>
Reply-To: barr_fredmbah11@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2008 11:34:20 +0100
Subject: Late Aaron Carver inheritance


*Barrister Fred Mbah
Fred Mbah& Associates
No 3 Allen Avenue,Ikeja
Lagos-Nigeria *

*Dear Sir/Madam, *

*Before I start, I must first apologize for this unsolicited mail to you.
I am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach to
establishing a relationship, but you will realize the reason for my
action after going through this email. *

*I am Barrister Fred Mbah,a solicitor at law. I am the personal
attorney to Late Aaron Carver. I got your impressive information after
a Conscious search for a reliable and matured mind that has all it
takes to execute this project. I was elated when I saw your address,
and I picked a keen interest with confidence to solicit for your help
in executing this opportunity. However, I was moved to contact you
based on the present situation of this pportunity, which I may say, is
a God given offer. *

*There was a foreigner who lived here in NIGERIA some time ago; he is
called Aaron Carver by name, until his death. I was his Personal
Attorney, unfortunately Aaron Carver died with his wife and their two
kids in a Local Plane Crash at Kano State, which enroute from sokoto to
Abuja (the capital city of Nigeria), all occupants in the Plane lost
their lives, unfortunately on this same flight were other dignitaries
like the former Nigeria Sports Minister and a host of others.
The following websites could be referenced: *

*http://www.usafricaonline.com/ngrkanocrash.html*<http://www.usafricaonline.com/ngrkanocrash.html>
*
**http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1968616.stm*<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1968616.stm>
* *

*Owing to his death, his bank called on me for a meeting as regards his
Account balance with the bank, being his attorney till the time of his
death, I was told to come up with any of his relatives to come and
claim the money, I tried all I could to trace his family, but all my
efforts proved abortive.*

*Since January this year till date, the bank has been asking me to look
for his family because they realize that a lot of people have been
trying to claim the money as his next of kin, but after verification,
It is found out that those people are not really his next of kin,
because they cannot provide any legal evidence to prove that they are
his relative.Hence, I have decided to use you as his next of kin to
claim the money as it happens that none of his relatives will ever
appear to claim the funds, besides I have all his documented memo in
my possession, which will back you up before the bank as his next of
kin.I have the logistics to make your name to be that you are the rightful
next
of kin to the deceased and as well as the beneficiary of the funds. The
amount involved
is US$6.5 Million ( Six Million,five hundred thousand US Dollars)*

*We will share 50 / 50% of the total sum after taxes and fees that will
be incurred during the approval process.I will like to invest my own
part of the money in your country based on your advice.
As regards that, I will like you to furnish me with the following
information,which I will use to secure the legal documents,*

*1). FULL NAMES
2). COMPLETE CONTACT ADDRESS
3). CONTACT PHONE NUMBER
4). FAX NUMBER
5). OCCUPATION
6). AGE
7). Sex *

*As soon as I receive your information, I will forward an application
for account closures to which you will submit to the concerned bank as
his next of kin. Be rest assured that, there is no risk involved as I
have perfected and made the necessary arrangements to back you up in
claiming the funds. I will want you to regard this deal as being highly
confidential because this busines transaction demands a high level of
secrecy as the bank does not know that I am involved in the deal.if
interested in the transaction and to enable me feed you with more
information, then do all you can to furnish me with all the needed
information. *

*Thanks for your anticipated co-operation as I await your reply.
Regards,
Barrister Fred Mbah*

*
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam