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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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.

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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:
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • smitkw2008@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Karl Smith <smitkw2008@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 10:36:27 -0400
Subject: REPLY BACK PLEASE.

My name is Karl Smith. and I am proposing you to stand in as the next of kin of a late expatriate client who died in a car crash with his immediate family on the 5th of Nov 2004 without leaving a will. Until the mishap, he worked as an independent oil Business magnate in my country. Since his death, all efforts to locate any of his extended relatives to claim his abandoned Funds have been to no avail.

My proposition is for you to stand in as the next of kin to the depositor. As stated earlier, he died without making a"WILL" making it possible to arrange the transfer of rights and privileges of the deceased to you.

If you are interested, kindly reply immediately with the under listed details to smitkw2008@gmail.com

1.Your Full Names
2.Your current Mobile telephone and fax numbers
3.Your age
4.Occupation
5.Your Current address

This will enable me file necessary documents at our high court probate division for the release of this sum of money in your favor.

I will send you more details as soon as I hear from you, thanks.

Note that you are not sending any money to me.

Yours faithfully,
Karl Smith.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam