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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "this business is hitch free " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Collins Mike" <collinsmike2@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: mrcollinsmike@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 09:18:09 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY

 

MR.Collins Mike.
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
UNION BANK.

 

ATTN:

 

My name is MR.Collins Mike Oof credit and foreign bills of Unionbank Plc. I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of my bank with account number14-255-2004/utb/t who perished in a plane crash  with thewhole passengers aboard Since the demise of this our customer by name Barry Wilson I personally has watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as none has come to claim his funds of usd.15.5M, [Fifteen million five hundred thousand united states dollars] which has been with my branch for a verylong time. On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the next of kin as no one has come up to be the next of kin.And the banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than five years, because money will be recalled to the bank treasury as unclaimed after this period.

 

 In view of this I got your contact through a trade journal after realizing that your name and country is similar to the deceased. I will give you 30% of the total.Upon the receipt of your response, I will send you by fax or e-mail the application, bank's fax number and the next step to take. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is hitch free and that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for fund transfer can be finalized with in five banking days, after you apply to the bank as a relation to the deceased.When you receive this
letter.Kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your private Tel/Fax numbers for quick communication.
Yours faithfully,

 

Best Regards.

 

MR.Collins Mike.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam