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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • wisdommike002@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "wisdom mike" <wisdommike@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: wisdommike002@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2006 10:19:24 +0000
Subject: URGENT REPLY NEEDED

URGENT REPLY NEEDED
FROM THE DESK OF: BARRISTER WISDOM MIKE
CHAMBER: WISDOM MIKE & ASSOCIATES
3 Allen Ave. Ikeja. Lagos - Nigeria
Direct E-mail: wisdommike002@yahoo.com
For your Kind Attention,

INTRODUCTION: I am BARRISTER WISDOM MIKE a Solicitor. I am the
PersonalAttorney to MR. ADAMS national of your country, who used to work
with CADBURY NIGERIA LIMITED, On the 21st of April 2004, my client, his wife
and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu /
Lagos Express Road. Unfortunately they All lost their lives in the event of
the accident, 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 trace
his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but of no
avail, hence I contacted you.

I contacted you to assist in retrieving the money and property left behind
by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
bank where this huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Bank where the
deceased had an account valued at about US$10.5M (Ten Million Five Hundred
Thousand United Stated Dollars). Conseqently, the bank issued me a notice to
provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated.
Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the the relatives for over 2
years now. I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the
deceased since you are from the same country so that the proceeds of this
account valued at US$10.5MD can be paid to you and then you and me can share
the money. 50% to me and 40% to you,while 10% should be for expenses or tax
as your government may require.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim
we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation 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 direct
your reply through this alternative mailbox if you are intreseted to enable
us discuss further.
Yours Faithfully,
BARRISTER WISDOM MIKE (Esq.).
N.B. Please indicate your contact address, telephone, fax numbers for easy
communication in this mutual transaction.
Direct E-mail: wisdommike002@yahoo.com

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam