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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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Fraud email example:

From: "Dr Craig" <craig704@msn.com>
Reply-To: craigwilson900@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 21:30:16 +0000
Subject: Dear.

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister Craig Wilson, of CRAIG WILSON CHAMBER & CO. This mail is
written and intended to solicit your assistance to be presented as NEXT OF
KIN to my Late Client.

My Deceased Client Richard Burson, made a fixed Deposit of Fund valued at
USD25M (Twenty Five Million United States Dollars Only) with a Bank in
London and unfortunately lost his life aboard Egypt Air Flight 990, which
crashed in to the Atlantic Ocean on November 2nd, 1999
(news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm) and left no clear
beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the
Deposit which is still with me.

Since his death, I have been searching all over for his relatives to come
and claim their brothers fund but all my effort proves abortive. Just last
week the Governing Body of the bank contacted me on this matter, informing
me about their banking regulations, which warrant them to confiscate any
customer’s account that has been unserviceable for three years. It is based
on this I contacted you for us to build a strong partnership, confidence and
trust among each other to achieve this rear opportunity that has divinely
located us.

Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I shall proceed to present
you as the Next of Kin to my late client, so as to stop the bank from
confiscating his fund.

Thank you very much for your anticipated acceptance while we expect your
prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

Barrister Craig Wilson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam