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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:

• 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:
  • "transfer into your account" (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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • brianwilliams100@uku.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "brian williams" <brianwilliams1400@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: brianwilliams15@uku.co.uk
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 09:37:31 +0000
Subject: Claim As Next Of kin

ATTORNEY WILLIAMS BRIAN
Plot 12 Satellite Town Lagos-Nigeria
 
Dear Friend ,
 
I am Barrister Brian A.Williams (Esq) , I am the Personal Attorney to Mr.Henry Nusre,aforeigner,who use to work with Jangle Cement Company here in Nigeria, on the 2nd of Dec. 2002, my client and his wife ,got involved in a car accident, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients 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 in repartrating the fund left behind by my late client because the bank have asked me as his lawyer to produce his next of kin.
 
Particularly, Bank have given me a notice to provide the next of kin to claim the contract valued at about US$11 Million Dollars or have the amount confisicated ,since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over years, now I seek your conscent to
present you as the next of kin of the deceased since your a foreigner and have the same surname so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$11 Million can be paid to you.
 
All I require is your honest coperation to enable us see this dealt through .I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law of your country and my country too as a professional legal attorney in
the field.
 
Finally,kindly maintain confidentiality between me and you on this transaction.
 
Note: Some of the lawyers in my office have been plaining to divert this particular amount of money US$11M but they failed because I never authorized anybody to do that,as the principal attorney of this estate I hereby urge your assistance to get this fund
transfer into your account legitimately which I am assuring. In some of my lawyers may contact you in different ways concerning this claim,but don't respond to me by forwarding me the mesage they send you so that I can get them sacked.
 
Upon your consideration of this transaction,you are hereby asked to send the following information that I will use to prepare and application on your behalf as you Legal Counsel representing this claim legall:
 
1. Your Full names
2. Your complete Postal Address.
3. Your Telephone number
4. Your fax number
5. Your Occupation.
6. Sex.
7. Marital Status.
 
I await your urgent response.
 
ALL RESPONSE SHALL BE SEND TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS AS IN
BRACKET (brianwilliams100@uku.co.uk)
Best regards,
ATTORNEY WILLIAMS BRIAN

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam