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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "30% for you " (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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • williams.johnson71@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: williamsjohnson2006@live.com
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:18:19 -0800 (PST)
Subject: From Barrister Williams A. Johnson.(LLB).


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: williams.johnson71@yahoo.com



- Dear Friend, I am Williams A. Johnson, a legal practitioner and the personal attorney to Late Mr. Andreas Schranner, a German property magnate who lost his life on the 21st of April 2000, along with his wife, Maria and their children and even grand children in a plane crash. The AF4590 crash killed all 109 passengers on board and five others who died on the ground when the plane crashed into the Hotelissimo. Refer to the website below for more details:-http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm Since then I have made several inquires to locate any of my client's extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I have decided to contact you to act as the next of kin by assisting in repatriating the money in his account with BARCLAYS BANK PLC LONDON. The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin within the next 14 official working days or the account declared unserviceable and confiscated.The amount in question is £10,500,000.00 (Ten Million five hundred thousand Pounds Sterling only).Therefore, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the Late Mr. Andreas Schranner so that the £10,500,000.00 (Ten Million five hundred thousand Pounds Sterling only) can be paid to you and then we (you and I) can share the money. This business is simple. I will like you to provide immediately your full name and address so that I will prepare all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honesty and co-operation to enable us see this deal through.I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangements that will protect you from any breach of the law. Remember to send to me also your telephone and fax numbers for easy communication. A bank account in any part of the world which you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this Funds to you as the beneficiary or next of kin. The Funds will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 30% for you while 10% will be set aside for expenses in the course of this transaction.If you are interested, please reply immediately via email. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details on the transaction. Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest part of my own share in your Country.Finally, I shall request that you send me your detailed information as stated below;-1) Your full names.2) Your contact address and 3) Your private telephone and fax numbers.Best regards,Barrister Williams A. Johnson.(LLB).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam