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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (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)
  • "keep it confidential" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "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.
  • barrtomcole@katamail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Thomas Cole" <barrtomcole91@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: barrtomcole@katamail.com
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2006 20:10:58 +0000
Subject: Dear Waston

>From the Desk: MR. Thomas Cole.
Thomas Cole & partners.
25 Wilson Road
Olodi Apapa
Lagos- Nigeria.
Private / Highly Confidential

Email:barrtomcole@katamail.com

Subject Matter: Invitation to act as Next-of-Kin

Dear Waston,

I presume this letter will come to you as a surprise, but as things
unfold,we will know each other better. I will start by introducing myself to
you. My name is Thomas Cole a solicitor at law.

I am writing in respect of a foreigner Richard Burson Waston, who happens to
be my client an oil merchant and contractor who perished in a plane crash of
31st October 1999[WITH EGYPTIAN AIRLINE 990] with other passengers aboard.

Since the demise of my client I personally have 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$28.5m(Twenty Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollar) and all the relevant documents in the bank has no
record of any next of kin. On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name
shall be used as his next of kin so I have contacted you to assist in
repatriating most especially, the money left behind by my client before they
get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where the huge
deposits were lodged.

Particularly, the Equity Development Bank Plc where the deceased had an
account valued at about Usd28.5 million dollars has issued me a notice to
provide the Next of kin, or have the account confiscated.

seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin of the deceased since I
read your profile I know you can assist me as I need somebody who is
trustworthy and willing to assist me get the funds transfered.Whcih the
account which my late client operate is valued at Usd28.5 million dollars
can be paid to you, as my clients Next of Kin, and then we can share the
amount on a mutual agreed percentage.

All legal documents to back up your claim as the deceased Next of Kin will
be provided. 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 and you should
endeavor to keep it confidential.

Please get in touch with me,to enable us discuss further about this
transaction.You can also forward to me your private cell phone number where
i can reach you.

Best regards,

Barrister.Thomas Cole.

You Can Contact Me AT:barrtomcole@katamail.com

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam