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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
  (+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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (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 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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • barrmapetersesq@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Marchant Peters" <barrmapetersesq03@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2006 10:31:45 +0100
Subject: Anticipating your prompt response.

BARR. MARCHANT A. PETERS  (ESQ.)
MARCHANT & ASSOCIATES LAW FIRM
Office address:
4 Albert Embankments, London
SE1 7SR, United Kingdom
EMAIL: barrmapetersesq@myway.com
 
Dear friend,
 
It is with trust and belief that I write to you this day as my confidence is reposed in you to assist me in executing this urgent business opportunity for our mutual benefits. 
 
I am Barrister  M.A. Peters  (Esq.) a British national and an Attorney based here in London. I had a client named Mr.Mark ,a national of your country. He used to work as a Director with Halliburton Associates Company  here in London. On the 2nd of August 2003, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Manchester Express road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.
 
Since then I have made several enquiries in his Embassy to locate any of my client's extended relatives.After these  several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over  the internet in order to locate any member of his family but that was to no avail, hence I contacted you as his supposed relative since you are also a foreigner.Please, I want you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind  by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Platinum Finance company here in London where these huge deposits were lodged.
 
He had an account valued at about US$20M(Twenty Million US Dollars)and now the finance company has issued me a notice to provide the next-of-kin or  have the account freezed within the next ten official working days. 
 
Since, I have succeeded in locating you today as his  relative, hence,I hereby seek your consent to present you as the next of kin  to the deceased,so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$20M  can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money, 50% to me and 50% to you.To present you as the next of kin will pose no difficulty as there is no risk involved.
 
I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this business proposal to you is 100% real and will be executed  under a legitimate arrangement without any problem at all.
 
Please get in touch with me via my secured and confidential email address:      barrmapetersesq@myway.com       immediately you receive this message so that I will give you further details. Remember to include your own private or mobile cell phone with which I can equally reach you.
 
Anticipating your prompt response.
 
Yours Sincerely,
 
BARR. MARCHANT A. PETERS.
               

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam