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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:
  • "million british pounds" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "MR BENJAMIN RAY" <banjamin_ray10@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 5 Feb 2006 18:18:26 +0100
Subject: compliments !!!



Hello,
I am a staff of Clientis Bank Sparherfen Zurich, Switzerland.
I am writing following an oppurtunity in my office that will be of imense benefit to both of us.
In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of £3.5million British Pounds Sterling (Three million five hundred thousand British Pounds) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers Late Mr. Anderson Giggey an American who unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31 2000, including his wife and only daughter.
Now the bank has been waiting for any of the relatives to come-up for the claim but nobody has done that.I personally has been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin / Will Beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at £3.5Million British Pounds Stering can be paid to you. This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 50% to me and 50% to you. I will secure all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality and Trust to enable us see this transaction through.
I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please, provide me the following:
1. Full Name
2. Your Telephone Number
3. Your Contact Address.
Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.
Best regards,
Mr Benjamin Ray.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam