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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:
  • "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 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • fredericksokonjo@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Fredericks Okonjo <fredericksokonjo@yahoo.ca>
Reply-To: fredokonjo_jr@live.com
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 06:18:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: PLEASE YOUR RESPONSE IS HIGHLY NEEDED


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: fredericksokonjo@yahoo.ca



- My name is Mr Fred Okonjo;I work in one of the prime banks in Nigeria.I am contacting you for as assistance in regards to a business transfer of a large sum of money from a dormant account.Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day.I am the personalaccounts manager to one Mr.Henry Kearns who used to run an oil servicing company here in Nigeria.Mr.Henry Kearns was involved in the ill fated Kenya Airways crash in the coasts of Abidjan(Cote d'ivoire) in January 2000 in which all passengers on board died. Of particular interest is this huge deposit with our bank made by the deceased valued at about Fifteen million US dollars (US$15,000,000.00)Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives but has been unsuccessful.After several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to trace his last name over the internet to s!
ee if I could locate any member of his family,hence I contacted you.Recently a probate order has been issued and as such if nobody comes for the claim of the deposit by the first third of this year,the account will be declared unserviceable and the funds called to the government treasury.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating any of the relatives for over last 6 years now, I will seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account be released and transferred into your account, then you and I will share the money.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us to see this deal through.I guarantee that this will be executed under all legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please acknowledge receipt of this email in acceptance of our mutual business endeavour by furnishing me with the following information as listed below which will enable me work !
on the account file so that you can now apply for the release of the f
unds as the next of kin.Your full name,Postal address,Date of birth,Telephone numbers-(Home and cell phone nos),Age and Occupation Any other details will follow at the receipt of your response.Thanking you for your anticipated cooperation.Mr Fred Okonjo Email Address:fredokonjo_jr@live.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam