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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:
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• 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.
  • johnsmith070@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHN SMITH" <info@webnews.com>
Reply-To: johnsmith070@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 07:12:28 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Hello

Dearest Friend,

My name is Mr. JOHN SMITH, I am a staff of INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL
BANK(ICB) ACCRA-GHANA. I work in the operations dept where I serve as
account officer to numerous customers.I am contacting you of a business
transfer, of a huge sum of money from a deceased account the amount of
US15Million.Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make
any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that every
documents that will bring about the success of this transaction would be
provided, and all will be well at the end of the day. I decided to contact
you due to the urgency of this transaction.

The deceased person who died Mr Abdou Elzanaty died in an air crash along
with his wife and two children in a plane crash on the 31st October 1999
in an Egyptian airline with other passengers on board was an American Oil
consultant/contractor with the Chinese Solid Minerals Corporation. You can
confirm his death from the BBC WORLD NEWS published Website below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm

The board of directors of ICB, mandated me as the account officer to the
decease to look for any known relation of Mr. Abdou Elzanaty, since after
his death.However, all my efforts traces was abortive, that is the main
reason I am writing you this to ask for your co-operation for us to claim
this money because it will amount to injustice if I do not take this
decisive step to secure this deposit and invest it, because if nobody
comes forward to claim the fund it will be forfeited to the government,
based on that, I am contacting you to assist me in making this transaction
a reality.I only have to approve you as the next of kin/beneficiary and
the fund will be paid into your account as the next of kin.

We are to share this money between ourselves and also donate 10% to
charity and the tsunami victims If this proposal is acceptable by you,
please endeavor to contact me immediately via this my most confidential
email(johnsmith070@yahoo.com.hk) Do not take undue Advantage of the trust
I have bestowed in you. Please reach me immediately on the above email
address to furnish you with more details of operation and the modalities
and include your private telephone number and your complete names
occupation and address to apply for the process of the claim. Above all,
please handle this deal with maturity and absolute confidentiality if you
found it worthy to be benefited reply me but if not, notify me on time and
better still keep it top secret due to the nature.
Thanks and God bless you for your anticipated co-operation.
Yours truly,
Mr. John Smith
Email: johnsmith070@yahoo.com.hk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam