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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Felix Reason <vv1vv14@msn.com>
Reply-To: <felixreason123@excite.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 12:57:56 +0000
Subject: Very Important Notice !!!



My Dear Friend, I request for your quick help in this {DEAL} that will benefit both of us without any risk Involved eithernow or later. I am Mr. Felix Reason., 56 years of age from London and a Chief Auditor in the International Remittance Department (IRD) in London. I have an amount in Excess of Three Hundred & Eighty-Four Million Pounds (£384,000.000.00) only, which has been lying, in our suspense escrow account for safe keeping. For over 3 years plus now unclaimed belonging to a "dead customer" Mr. John Paul Gettyfrom United States of America who died on Apr. 17,2003 after a brief illness in London Hospital(BBC News), Visit the web site below for confirmation;http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/uk/2956897.stmIf this money reaches 5 years, it will automatically move to the Bank Vault {Central Bank of United Kingdom} as "UNCLAIMED FUND". All I need from you now is to present you to the Bank Management as the next of kin to the dead man and have the Bank pay you (Beneficiary) this money as your late Uncle's money which he left in our bank since you are a foreigner like him. Please if you are interested, kindly get back to me as quickly as possible to enable me make all the necessary arrangement towards how to present you to the bank as "truly next of kin" to the late man. It does not matter if you are from America or not. After the claim of this money by you through our assistance, you will take 40% of the total Sum and 5% to cover any cost of expenses which both will incur in this transaction and keep the rest 55% for me in the account I will forward to you later after the deal is done or i will come to your place for sharing etc.Hope hearing from you urgently.Best Regards, Mr. Felix Reason.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam