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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • danjumauseni_11@yahoo.com
  • danjuma@web2mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Danjuma Useni <danjumauseni_11@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: danjuma@web2mail.com
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:22:10 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: GOOD DAY


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: danjumauseni_11@yahoo.com



- ECOBANK PLC,FALOMO COMPLEX IKOYI -LAGOS EMAIL: danjuma@web2mail.com Dear sir,I am Mr Danjuma Useni,The Branch Auditor of ECO BANK PLc(ECB)Nigeria.I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On December 29th 2000, an American oil consultant/contractor with the Government of BENIN Republic, Mr. Werner Branch made a numbered time (Fixed) deposited for twelve calendar months, valued at $25,830,000.00 (Twenty-five Million eight hundred and thirty Dollars) in my branch.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, that Mr. Werner Branch died in an automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he did not leave a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Werner Branch did not declare any next of kin in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork.This sum of $25,830,000.00 (Twenty-five Million eight hundred and thirty thousand Dollars) is still sitting in the bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will come forward to claim it. According to the laws of the country, at the expiration of 5 (five)years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Government if nobody applies to claim the funds Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Werner Branch so that the fruits of this old man s labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide me immediately with your full names and address so that an Attorney (lawyer) will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits, which will put you in place as the next of kin.We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and notarization of a "WILL" and obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world, which you will provide, will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share.There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the Attorney and my position as the Branch Auditor guarantees the successful execution of this transaction.If you are interested, please reply immediately via the private:danjuma@web2mail.com Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand and also I shall let you know how the percentage I will offer you for your assistance. Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.I am waiting for your urgent reply via email. (danjuma@web2mail.com)Yours truly,Danjuma Useni.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam