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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money)
  • "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 mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447040104057 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447005968512 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • macdave44@yahoo.it

Fraud email example:

From: "malcom thomas" <macdave22@msn.com>
Reply-To: macdave44@yahoo.it
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 11:13:49 +0000
Subject: GET BACK TO ME.

MALCOM DAVID AND ASSOCIATES (ESQ)
LEGAL PRACTITIONER.
2 GREAT SCOTLAND YARD,
SW1A 2HN LONDON,
UNITED KINGDOM.

ATTN:
I AM BARRISTER DAVID MALCOM, THE PERSONAL ATTORNEY TO MR. JUNG STEVENSON A
FOREIGNER WHO USED TO WORK WITH MEKON ASSOCIATES COMPANY IN LONDON. ON THE
2ND OF AUGUST 2003, MY CLIENT, HIS WIFE AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ALONG MANCHESTER ROAD.ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE UNFORTUNATELY LOST THEIR LIVES. SINCE THEN I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ENQUIRIES TO YOUR EMBASSY TO LOCATE ANY OF MY CLIENT'S EXTENDED RELATIVES, THIS HAS ALSO PROVED UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER THESE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS, I DECIDED TO TRACE HIS RELATIVES OVER THE INTERNET,TO LOCATE ANY MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY BUT OF NO AVAIL, HENCE I CONTACTED YOU.I HAVE CONTACTED YOU TO ASSIST ME IN REPATRIATING THE MONEY LEFT BEHIND BY MY CLIENT BEFORE THEY GET CONFISCATED OR DECLARED UNSERVICEABLE BY THE FINANCE HOUSE WHERE THESE HUGE DEPOSITS WERE LODGED.

PARTICULARLY, THE FINANCE HOUSE WHERE THE DECEASED HAD AN ACCOUNT VALUED AT
ABOUT THIRTY MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND USD HAS ISSUED ME A NOTICE TO PROVIDE THE NEXT-OF-KIN OR HAVE THE ACCOUNT CONFISCATED WITHIN THE NEXT TEN OFFICIAL WORKING DAYS. SINCE I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING THE RELATIVES FOR OVER NINE (9) MONTHS NOW, I SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED SO THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THIS ACCOUNT VALUED AT THIRTY MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND USD CAN BE PAID TO YOU AND THEN YOU AND I CAN SHARE THE MONEY; 60% TO ME AND 35% TO YOU, WHILE 5% SHOULD BE FOR EXPENSES OR TAX AS YOUR GOVERNMENT MAY REQUIRED.

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 WILL BE EXECUTED UNDER A LEGITIMATE ARRANGEMENT THAT WILL PROTECT YOU FROM ANY BREACH OF THE LAW. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME FIRST BY MY SECURED AND CONFIDENTIAL EMAIL (macdave44@yahoo.it)(TEL:+447040104057 FAX: +447005968512) IMMEDIATELY YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THE GOOD RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE. ANTICIPATE YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE.
YOURS SINCERELY,
BARR. MALCOLM DAVID.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam