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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "you are advise to" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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 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.
  • vanfpeters_esq@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Van F. Peters" <adnankan@mersin.edu.tr>
Reply-To: "Van F. Peters" <vanfpeters_esq@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:20:30 EEST
Subject: LAST & FINAL NOTICE TO YOU !!!

Barristers' Chambers:
VAN F. PETERS & ASSOCIATES


On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr.Gerhard Harrison. I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned undelivered. I wish to notify you that late
Engr.Gerhard Harrison made you a beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Ten Million, One Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling (£10, 100.000.00GBP) 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 must have been in contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends abroad who wished you good. Engr.Gerhard Harrison until his death was a member of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers.


According to him this money is to support your humanitarian activities and to help the poor and the needy in our society. Please if I reach you as I am hopefully anticipating your response, 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.


Note: You are advise to contact me with my personal email address:

vanfpeters_esq@yahoo.com.hk

I await your prompt response.



Yours in Service,



Van F.Peters Esq.
Partner
Attorney at Law

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam