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

Fraud email example:

From: "beke wetaego" <bek.wt.g@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: bek_wet_private@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2007 23:03:31 -0700
Subject: Timmermans:YOUR ATTENTION IS NEEDED HERE.

BEKE WETAEGO- Barrister at Law

Barrister. BEKE WETAEGO,
(Bill And Exchange)
African Development Bank (ADB)
Lagos-Nigeria
Email:bek_wet_private@yahoo.com

 

Attn: Timmermans,

 

I am Barrister Beke Wetaego, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr.David Timmermans,national of your country,possibly could be your brother,who used to work with shell Development Company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 6th of 2002 May,my client, his wife and their two Children were involved in a plane crash in a remote village called Kuru near Jos in Plateau State.

 

All occupants of the plane unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here in lagos 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 contacted you.

 

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated, frozen or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Eco Bank International where the deceased had an account valued at about Seventeen Million,Five hundred thousand United States Dollars US$17.500,000:00). The management has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account frozen within the next ten official working days.

 

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 5years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$17.500,000.00 can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money. 55% to me and 40% to you and 5% for expenses I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up this claim.

 

And this I must do to make sure that this fund is not wasted or end upin the wrong hands. All I require is your honest co-operation 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.

 

Looking forward to your urgent anticipation to this offer.

Regards Barrister.BEKE WETAEGO (Esq).

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