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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 us 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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• 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.
  • victoronu111@yahoo.co.in

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Dr=20Victor=20Onu?= <victoronu111@yahoo.co.in>
Reply-To: drdrvictor@sify.com
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:52:47 +0530 (IST)
Subject: MONEY TRANSFER TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT/ REPLY IMMEDIATELY


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: victoronu111@yahoo.co.in



- Good day, Urgent Business Proposal. I am the Director of Bill and Exchange at the foreign remittance Department of Fidelity Bank Nig Plc). I am writing to seek your cooperation over this business deal. In my Department, I discovered an abandoned sum of (US $40 Million US Dollars). In an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers who died along with his entire family in a plane crash that took place in Kenya, The account belongs to the Late DR.GEORGE BRUMLEY JNR, a citizen of Atlanta, United States of America but nationalized in Nigeria and contractor with Anglo Gold. Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin or business associate to come and claim his money because it cannot be released unless somebody applies for it as next of kin or business associate to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines but unfortunately, all his supposed next of kin or relation died along with him at the plane crash leaving nobody behind for the claim. You can read more about the crash on visiting this site; http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.html it is therefore upon this discovery that I now decided to make this business proposal to you and release the money to your account as the next of kin or business associate. The Banking law and guideline here stipulates that if such money remains dormant after five years; the money will be transferred into the Bank treasury as unclaimed fund. The request for your assistance and maximum co-operation as a foreign citizen is highly needed to release this fund. I will like us to share this money mutually on two equal halves between me and you . Please note that I don’t have any asses to withdraw any cent from this money due to the money was insured by the owner DR. GEORGE BRUMLEY JNR. I will indulge you at this point to understand that this is privileged information and must be strictly confidential. Please reply to this mail.Best Regards,Dr Victor Onu

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam