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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found 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.
  • stevlawley@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Steve lawley" <stevlawley1@aim.com>
Date: Sat, 9 Sep 2006 18:24:39 +0200
Subject: next of kin


Mr. Steve Lawley
Europe.
Email: stevlawley@yahoo.com

RE: NEXT OF KIN
Dear Friend,
Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics, but let it remains as top secret for only you and I.

I will introduce myself as Mr Steve Lawley, a staff in the Accounts Management Section of a well-known bank in Europe.


One of our accounts with holding balance of US$5,000,000(Five Millions US Dollars) has been Dormant and has not been operated for the past 5 years.

From my investigation and confirmation, the owner of this account a foreigner, died in August 2000 and since his death nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because he has no family members who were aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds, also, information from the National Immigration stated that he was also single on entry into Europe.

I had discussed this matter with some of my bank Top Officials and we have agreed to find a Reliable Partner to deal with. We thus propose to do business with you, standing in as the NEXT OF KIN to the deceased, and funds will be released to you after due processes have been followed and neccessary documentation to back this up will be presented.

This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from Drug, Money Laundry, Terrorism or any other illegal act.
Also, after a successful completion of this transaction, we intend to give you 30% and 10% for whatever expenses that we both may incur, while 60% of the total amount will be for us which we also intend to invest in your country in any good business venture that you will introduce.

If you are interested, send me the following information via email to me so that we can start processing this transaction: -


1 Complete Names (First and Last Names)
2 Full Address.
3. Phone and Fax numbers (for proper communication.)
4. Occupation, Age and Marital Status.


Thank you for your understanding and reply to stevlawley@yahoo.co
Regards,
Steve Lawley

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam