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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "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.
  • swalkeresq@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Steven walker <swalkeresq1@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: swalkeresq@excite.com
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 19:35:55 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Read carefully and respond back


FROM Barrister Steven Walker.
Walker'S CHAMBERS
PLOT 120 FALOMO ROAD
IYANAKPAJA LAGOS.
ALT EMAIL: swalkeresq@excite.com

Dear Eric Verwaal.

I am Barrister Steven Walker (SAN) personal attorney to Late MR.Stiffler Verwaal, a national of your country, who used to work with Shell Development Company here in Nigeria herein after shall be referred to me as my client.
On the 21st of April 2000, my client, his wife and their two children were involved in a ghastly motor accident along Warri- Egbeda Express Road.Unfortunately,all occupants of the vehicle lost their lives as the vehicle caught fire after the crash.
Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contactedyou.
My purpose of contacting you is to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client prior to his death before they get confiscated or declared edunserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged particularly,the BANK where the deceased had an account valued at about US$22.5 Million dollars.The bank had issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account Confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 5 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name/surname so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$22.5 million dollars can be paid to you and then we can share the money afterwards.
I have all the necessary official and legal documents that can be used to back up the claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enableus in seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
PLEASE ON YOUR REPLYING, DO SEND TO ME YOUR FULL NAMES AND ADDRESS,YOUR PRIVATE TEL/MOBILE/FAX NUMBERS.REPLY ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE EMAIL (swalkeresq@excite.com)

Best regards,
Barrister Steven Walker (SAN).





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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam