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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • williams.akim@yahoo.es (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Williams Akim" <williamsakim104@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: williams.akim1@yahoo.es
Date: Fri, 04 Aug 2006 03:41:31 +0100
Subject: Very Urgent

From Mr.Williams Akim
Fund Release Order
Lagos Nigeria.
Email contact: williams.akim@yahoo.es

Attn:Sir/Madam,

I am Mr.Williams Akim Working in department of Fund Release Order Nigeria,I
know this letter might come to you as surprise,but take it like your own
deal. Engr. Siawosh Addison from Iran executed contract through Federal
Ministry of Works & Housing here in Nigeria,the contract worth of
(US$17.5M)but on the processof transferring the money to him,he died with
his family in earthquake disaster that occurred recently in Iran.Meanwhile,
his money has been asigned to be paid through my office before I will give
order to the final endorsement of his money.Nobody knows what is going on
except I and one of colleagues, late Engr.Addison's information will be
furnished to you base on your willingness.

You will have to act as the beneficiary of this fund, Since I have been
unsuccesfull in locating the the relatives now,I seek your consent to
present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that the US$17.5M Dollars
can be paid into your account so that you and I can share the money
according to the agreed ratio.I will send to you the whole relevant
information that required in this transaction immediately you accept to
co-operate with me.

Send to me your:
1. Your privates phone and fax
2. Name of your company if any to enable us to start the deal immediately,I
have decided to give you 30% of this money and 5% for Homeless in Iran while
5 % will be for motherless babies here.

This is 100% risk-free.Meanwhile,I will be going to my retirement very soon,
so need this money to take care of my family in future.

If you are willing to assist me in this transaction,please feel free to
contact me on my private email address on : williams.akim@yahoo.es

I am waiting your urgent reply.

God bless you.

Yours truly,
Mr. Williams Akim

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam