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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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "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 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 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.
  • leswal2@yahoo.com.cn

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: leswal_5@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:53:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FUNDS TRANSFER REPLY IMMEDIATELY


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:wallacell4@yahoo.com.co



- Greetings,I am a senior Accountant in my Bank also accounting officer to Mr.Daniel , a national of your country, who worked with the Chevron Plc .. On the 21st of April 2004, my customer, his wife and their two children were involved in auto-crash along the ever-busy High Way. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.Since then, the Board of Directors of my Bank have made several enquires to their embassy to locate any of my customer's extended relations but to no avail. Hence the needs to contact you is to present you as the next of kin at the bank and claim this fund,since you both share the same family name.I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and Propertyleft behind by my client before they get Confiscated or declaredunserviceable by the bank where this Huge deposits of US$20M was lodged.The Bank has published several Notices for the Next of Kin of thedeceased to apply for collection of this Fund or have the account confiscated within a short Period of time.Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 yearsnow I seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin of the deceased,hence two of you share the same family name, so that the proceeds of this Account valued at US$20 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money, 60% to me and 40% to you.I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to backup any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the Law.You can contact me through my private email: leswal2@yahoo.com.cn I await your reply soon.LESTER WALLACE,SENIOR ACCOUNTANT.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam