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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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "this business is hitch free " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +27732742076 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)
  • +27839820957 (South Africa, 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.
  • bsmith@unionplus.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR. BRACON SMITH" <bsmith@unionplus.net>
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 13:09:10 -1000
Subject: JOIN ME IN THIS PARTNERSHIP; http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/06/guam.passenger.list

FROM THE ACTING MANAGER/ CONTROLLER FOREIGN INVESTMENTS AND BILLS
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA.
Email: bsmith@unionplus.net


DEAR FRIEND

My name is Mr. Bracon Smith The Acting Manager/ controller Foreign
Investments And Bills Republic of South Africa,

I am writing in respect of a foreign customer in one of our banks with
account number 908-14-255-114 whose name is Cho Kwiyoung(Mr.), an American
citizen who died in a plane crash [Korean Air Flight 801] with the whole
passengers onboard on August 6,1997. And for your perusal you can view this
website

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/06/guam.passenger.list

Since the demise of this customer, I personally has watched with keen
interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has
come to claim his funds of US$20.5M (Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars) which has been with our branch for a very long time.
On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the Next
of Kin as no one has come up as his next of kin. And our monetary laws here
does not allow such money to stay more than eight years in the bank, because
the money will be disbursed by the government since funds are unclaimed.

In view of this, I got your contact through the internet research as I was
making a research on a foreigner who will assist me in this great
opportunity. For your assistant I am willing give you 20% of the total
amount.

Upon the receipt of your response, I will send you by fax or e-mail the
letter of application for the release of the funds which you will fill, sign
and send back to our office to enable us start this processing of this
claim. I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is hitch
free and that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for the
smooth and easy transfer of this fund has been finalized, this transaction
will be completed within seven banking days of receiving your response,
after you apply to the National Treasury as a relation to the deceased. When
you receive this letter. Kindly send me an e-mail or fax signifying your
decision.

Please include your private Tel/Fax numbers for quick communication on my
personal email address:bsmith@unionplus.net

Yours Sincerely,

MR. BRACON SMITH.

FAX: +27 732 742 076
TEL: +27 839 820 957

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam