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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +447031915590 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Brunz, Susan K" <sbrunz@mail.smu.edu>
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 05:30:28 -0500
Subject: Email me back at www.davidsmith_esq1@live.co.uk

The Barristers' Chambers:
DAVID SMITH &Associates
Phone: +447031915590
Email www.davidsmith_esq1@live.co.uk

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Eng. Jurgen
Krugger, I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned
undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email
address on the WILL. I wish to notify you that late Jurgen Krugger
made you a beneficiary in his WILL. He left the sum of Thirty Million, One
Hundred Thousand Dollars(US$30, 100,000.00) to you in the Codicil and last
testament to his WILL.

This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and
true.Being a widely traveled man, he said he met you sometime in the past
or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad
who must have wished you good (I am not too sure).

According to him, this money is to support your humanitarian/medical
activities and to help the poor and the needy in our society. Please if I
reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon as possible
to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no
distant time. I am sincerely sorry if you feel bothered or embarrassed by
this message.

Please do contact me on my personal email address below.
(www.davidsmith_esq1@live.co.uk)

I await your prompt response.

Yours in Service,
DAVID SMITH ESQ.
PRINCIPAL PARTNER

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam