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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)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +31616729060 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • petervansmith1946@yahoo.de
  • petervansmith61@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "PETER VAN SMITH" <petervansmith0001@yahoo.de>
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 11:04:30 +1000
Subject: WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU


From: Peter Van Smith
Email Address: petervansmith1946@yahoo.de
petervansmith61@aim.com

Dear Friend,
Betsy Drummond

I am Barrister Peter Van Smith, a solicitor at law. I was the personal
attorney to Eng, John McPherson, a national of your country who used to work
with an oil servicing company here in Amsterdam-Netherlands after which be
referred to as my client.

Eng, John McPherson 62 years of age made a fixed deposit of fund valued at
USD$14,500,000 (Fourteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars Only) with a Security Company/Finance Firm here in Europe and
unfortunately lost his life in an Egyptian charter plane Boeing 737 which
crashed into the Red Sea early on January 3 shortly after taking off from
the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all the 135 passengers and 13 crew
members aboard, Ref: (View: http://english.people.com.cn/200401/04/eng200401
04_131791.shtml). He left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some
vital documents related to the deposit still in my possession.

Recently, the governing body of the Security Company/Finance Firm contacted
me on this matter, requesting that I should notify the next of kin of my
late client to claim the funds and I am yet to provide the Next of Kin to
lay claims to the Fund. I know that my client had no living next of kin but
I went ahead and made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my
late clients extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful. Under a
clear and legitimate agreement with you, I seek your consent to present you
as the next so that my late client's fund will not be confiscated by the
Security Company.

You and I can share the money, you will be entitled to 50% of the total
fund for your role as the relative and next of kin of my late client, 40%
for me while 10% is to be marked out for any expenses that will be incurred
during the clearance or process of transfer of the fund to your bank
account. Be informed that there is no risk involved as all necessary legal
documents that will be used to back you up as the legal beneficiary and next
of kin of my late client will be procured.

All I require is your sincerity, honesty, co-operation and utmost good
faiths 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. Kindly, get in touch with me by my e-mail
(petervansmith1946@yahoo.de) or telephone to enable us discuss further. You
may also send your telephone number so that I can call you. Do not forget
that a transaction of this magnitude require utmost confidentiality and
sincerity. I look forward to your urgent response.

Thank you,
Peter Van Smith
Tel: +31616729060
Email Address: petervansmith1946@yahoo.de
petervansmith61@aim.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam