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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • "million dollars" (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)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: vincentramah@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 17:07:27 +0800
Subject: Re: Urgent Attention!!!:


RAMAH & ASSOCIATES
ADVOCATES SOLICITORS,
LEVEL 12,MENARA TJB
NO 9,JALAN SYED
80000 JOHOR BAHRU
MALAYSIA.


Good Day,

I am Mr. Vincent Ramah,an attorney at law.A deceased client of mine,who
hereinafter shall be referred to as my client, died as the result of a
heart-related condition on the 11 November 2001. His heart condition was due
to
the death of all the members of his family in the Gulf Air Flight Crashes in
Persian Gulf Near Bahrain Aired
August 23, 2000 - 2:50 p.m. ET as reported
on:http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23/bn.08.html

I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my
client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where
this
deposit valued at Nine Million United States Dollars( US$9 million dollars)
is
lodged. This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the
account will be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin
and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same last name, so
that
the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share the
amount
on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. All legal documents to back up your
claim
as my client's next-of-kin will be provided.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction
through.

This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from
any breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral
values,do accept my apology. I must use this opportunity to implore you to
exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary
confidential,
whatever your decision, while I await your prompt response.Please contact me
at
once to indicate your interest.


Best Regards,
Barr.Vincent Ramah
(Principal Partner).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam