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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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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:
  • "huge deposit" (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 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.
  • +2348035236974 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • richardjohnson040@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Richard Johnson" <richjohnson75@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 15:56:18 +0000
Subject: Attn: Koorn

RICHARD & ASSOCIATES CO.
Barristers ,Solicitors, Corporate legal consultants,
commercials & Maritime Practitioners.
301 ROAD, A CLOSE HOUSE 250
SATALITE TOWN
Tel: 234-80-35236974.
Email: richardjohnson040@yahoo.com

 
Attn: Koorn
 
I am Richard Johnson , a Solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Steven Koorn a nationality of your country, who used to work with Mobile Development Oil Company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st Of April 2000, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagama express-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 clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you but I know you dont know him, but with your last name been the same, we can get this money.
 
I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodge, valued at about Seven Million, Five Hundred And Twenty Two Thousand United States Dollars (US$7.522M). The bank 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 3 years now I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin of the deceased since you have the same last name. So that the proceeds of this account valued at (US$7.522M) can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money 50% to me and 50% to you. Including some other properties too. 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 deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please reply to my alternative email which is richardjohnson040@yahoo.com
 
Best Regards
 
Richard Johnson Esq.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam