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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • "barrister" (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 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.
  • gabrielsmith@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Gabriel Smith" <gabrielsmith002@msn.com>
Reply-To: gabrielsmith@sify.com
Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2006 18:06:43 +0000
Subject: Dear Friend /Assistance needed from you urgently!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>From the desk of:
Gabriel smith &Associates.
Dear Friend,
I am Barrister Gabriel Smith OF GABRIEL SMITH 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,
(77,Venice Isles,Florida, USA) who made a fixed Deposit of Fund valued at
USD25M (Twenty Five Million United States Dollars Only) with a Security
Firm in London and unfortunately lost his life aboard in 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 of
beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the
Deposit still with me.

The Governing Body of the bank has contacted me on this matter and I am yet
to provide the Next of Kin to lay claims to the Fund. Under a clear and
legitimate agreement with you, I shall seek your consent to be presented
as the next of Kin so that my late Clients'Fund will not be confiscated by
the bank.For the sake of transparency on this matter,you are free to make
immediate contact with me through my e-mail:(gabrielsmith@sify.com) for
further information related to this matter.Thank you very much for your
anticipated acceptance while we expect your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,
Barrister Gabriel Smith
Dear Friend /Assistance needed from you urgently!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam