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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million british 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.

Fraud email example:

From: David Richards <mrdavid.richards@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 01:27:04 +0000
Subject: Get back to me as soon as possible


Citi Finance Bank UK
25 Maiden Lane
Covent Garden
London WC2E 7JS

Dear Friend,

Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not
meet your personal ethics. I will introduce myself
as Mr David Richards, a staff in the accounts
management section of the above firm here in the
United Kingdom.

This is the detail of what i want you to assist me
in doing, One of our accounts with holding balance of
4,000,000(Four Million British Pounds) has been
dormant and has not been operated for the past four
(6) years. From my investigations and confirmations,
the owner of this account, a foreigner by name (Kurt
Kahle) died in July, 2000 see this

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

And since then nobody has done anything as regards
the claiming of this money because he has no family
members who are aware of the existence of neither
the account nor the funds.
I have secretly discussed this matter with a senior
official of this company and we have agreed to find
a reliable foreign partner to deal with. We thus
propose to do business with you, standing in as the
next of kin of these funds from the deceased and funds
released to you after due processes have been
followed.
This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as
the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug,
money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act. On
receipt of your response I will furnish you with detailed
clarification as it relates to this mutual benefit transaction.
I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible
if you are interested and with your trust.And also furnish
me with the following informations

YOUR FULL NAMES.............
YOUR TEL/FAX NUMBERS........
YOUR COUNTRY.............
YOUR OCCUPATION.............,

As soon as i recieve the above informations i will
give you the cantact of the bank chairman who will also
clearify you more on this transfer.

Regards,
Mr. David Richards

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam