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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.

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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:
  • "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)
• 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.
  • mrpaulpatterson@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <mrpaulpatterson@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2008 23:20:07 +0000
Subject: From: Mr. Paul Patterson



From: Mr. Paul Patterson
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC
36 St Andrew Square
Edinburgh SCO EH2 2YB.London-UK


Attn:

My name is Mr. Paul Patterson, Regional Head of British Isles
(Royal Bank of Scotland).

I am writing in respect of a Switzerland British Citizen customer of my
bank Mr. Victor Ratnavale, who died together with his wife in a Plane
crash on Monday 7th September 1998 GMT 14:22 UK while they were flying
from New York to Geneva. Please see the website bellow for more information.

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9809/swissair.victims.list/index.html for more


The late Mr. Victor Ratnavale left in our bank the sum of twenty five
million five hundred thousand pounds (£25.5 million pounds) and nobody
will ever come for this money because he died with his entire family. I
am the only person that is aware of this money since Mr. Victor
Ratnavale did not give to my bank any next of kin to inherit his money.
Now, I want to use my position in the bank to transfer this money to
your country for investment. If you can provide me with an account
where I can transfer this (twenty five million five hundred thousand pounds)
£25.5 million pounds.

I will give you 40% of this entire fund while the remaining 50% shall
be for me, extra 10% will be map out for any expencess you or I shall
make in this transaction. I am hoping to get a favorable response from
you.

Please get in touch with me by this special alternative email mrpaulpatterson@hotmail.com with the under listed information to enable us proceed immediately.


[1] NAME:.......................
[2] CONTACT ADD:...................
[3] AGE: ..........SEX:.............
[4] TEL.............. FAX:..........
[6] OCCUPATION: ..............
[7] MARITAL STATUS: ..............

I will not contact any other company or person until I am convinced that
you are not interested in this proposal.

I await your quick response.

Best Regards
Mr. Paul Patterson.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam