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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "because it still remains the fastest medium of communication" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million pounds" (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 feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <bencole222@yahoo.com.vn>
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:39:26 +0000
Subject: Attn:



Attn:
RE: TRANSFER OF [£36,759,000.00 MILLION POUNDS TO YOUR ACCOUNT].
My name is Ben Cole.I work in the International Operation Department in a Bank here in London.I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business. Though, this medium (Internet) has been greatly abused, I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest medium of communication.
At first I will like to assure you that this transaction is 100% risk and trouble free to both parties.THE FUND FOR TRANSFER IS OF CLEAN ORIGIN.THE OWNER OF THIS ACCOUNT IS A FOREIGNER a program leader.He has a huge investment here in the United Kingdom and all over the world, as a matter of fact he has the sum of (THIRTY SIX MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE THOUSAND POUNDS STERLINGS ONLY) in his account here in London which he deposited as a family valuables.The family does not know about this deposit and noone knows about this account.
I was on a routine inspection when I discovered a dormant domiciliary account with a BAL.Of (THIRTY SIX MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE THOUSAND POUNDS STERLINGS) on further discreet investigation,I also discovered that the account holder has passed away (dead) leaving no beneficiary to the account.I have secretly discussed this matter with the general manager of the bank who I must involve in order to have a smooth and a successful transfer of the fund to any foreign bank account which you are going to nominate.On this note, I decided to seek for your cooperation to act as the foreign beneficiary of the fund from the deceased by providing your bank account where the fund will be transferred into, for immediate investment on any viable project as no one has come up to be the next of kin to the deceased.The bank management will approve this money to any foreigner with the correct information of the account because the former operator of the a/c is a foreigner.A foreigner can only claim this money with legal claims to the account,therefore I need your cooperation in this transaction.I will provide all necessary information and legal document needed in order to claim this money,hoping in God that you will never let me down now or in the future.
Let me hear from you urgnetly by email.
Yours Faithfully, Ben Cole.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam