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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:
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Steven Anderson <validity4455@yahoo.es>
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2006 21:44:32 -0800
Subject: Next Of Kin

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister Steven Anderson,an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, by name Mr.Greg Murphy
,who here in after shall be referred to as my client,died as a result of a car accident here in England.

I am contacting you to assist me in ensuring that the funds lodged by my client with a private bank in
Canada,his bank,is not decleared unclaimed hence my reason for this contact to you.This bank has
issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my late
client,so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you,Then we can share the amount on a
mutually agreed-upon percentage.

All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your
honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.

This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. If
this business proposition offends your moral values,do accept my apology. Please contact me at once to
indicate your interest.

However if you are willing to assist me in this venture i will establish a verbal telephone communication
with you and bring you into a much better picture of the situation.

Best Regards,

Barrister Steven Anderson
Morley House,
12465 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BP,
U.K

Email:stevenanderson@atlas.cz

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam