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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (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.
  • c_williams_1001@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: c_williams_1001@yahoo.fr
Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2008 04:31:00 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:chris_williams_1008@yahoo.com.co



- I am Barrister Chris Williams,the personal Attorney to the late Engr.Steve Moore a national of your country who used to work with Shell Development Company(SDC) in Nigeria. On the 21st of April 2001, my client,his wife And their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu/Lagos Express Road. nfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the accident,Since then I have made several enquiries to several Embassies to locate any of my clients extended relatives,this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to trace his relatives but of no avail, hence I contacted you. contacted you to assist in retrieving the money and property left Behind by my client,I can easily convince the bank with my legal practice that you are the only surviving relation of my client.Otherwise the Estate he left behind will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $27million U.S dollars(twenty seven million U.S.America dollars).Conseqently,The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days. since i have been unsuccesfull in locating the the relatives for over several years now.I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased,so that the proceeds of this account valued at $27million U.Sdollars can be paid to your account and then you and i can share the money. 55%to me and 40% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require.Your information such as below: 1.your full name 2.Resident Address 3.Telephone/Fax Numbers 4.Your Occupation 5.Your AgeIs required for immedaite commencement of this transaction. I have allnecessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Please get in touch with me by my private email(c_williams_1001@yahoo.fr) to enable us discuss further. Yours Faithfully, Barrister Chris Williams(Esq)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam