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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe 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.
• 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.
  • +447024091651 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • timwood_56@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "timwood56" <timwood56@nonifamily.net>
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:25:15 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Please reply soon.

MR. TIMOTHY WOOD
(Branch Manager)
Co-operative bank, London
Tel: +44-702-4091651

My Dear,

Please kindly read through this letter and get back to me soon. I am
Mr. Timothy Wood, Branch Manager of co-operative Bank, London. I made
up my mind with trust to contact you for an urgent and very confidential
business based on your profile.

On the July 2004, a foreign fiber optics consultant/contractor, he opened
a fix deposit account with my branch and made a numbered time (Fixed)
Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$6,800,000.00(Six Million
eight hundred thousand United states dollars). Upon maturity, I sent
a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After
a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract
employers, he died from a gastly motor accident with his wife and only
daughter who is supposed to be the next of kin.This sum of $6,800,000.00
is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with
the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward
to claim it. At the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will be
reverted to the bank reserve account for bank use.

Consequently, my bank has mandated me to locate any of the relative and
all my attempt was proven abortive. Hence, I decided to contact you as
a foreigner since you have thesame last name with our late customer and
i want you to stand in as the relative and i will influence the claim
while we share the fund at equal ratio. I will be here to direct and
provide you with every information required. Be rest assured that you
stand not risk at all as long as am concern.
There is no risk at all as all the paper work for this transaction will
be done by the Attorney and my position as the Branch Manager guarantees
the successful execution of this transaction. We shall employe the service
of an Attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain
the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your
favour for the transfer.

If this is ok by you, please reply immediately and please include your
direct telephone number.
All i want from you is honest and trustworthy. Please observe utmost
confidentiality,and be rest assured that this transaction would be most
profitable for the both of us because I shall require your assistance
to invest my share in your country.

I await your urgent reply on my private mail box
(timwood_56@yahoo.co.uk) .

Regards.
Mr. Timothy Wood

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam