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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "is highly confidential" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • mrsmadeleiv@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: Madeleine Vivian <mdeleiviv15@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrsmadelei@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 21:06:01 +0000
Subject: Thanks



Dear Friend,
I am Mrs Madeleine Vivian, an Australian, an Auditor in a Bank in London. I will forward to you my full details and a copy of my International Passport and Drivers licence for verification if you desire. I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. I discovered an abandoned sum of $9.2 million usd (Nine million two hundred thousand united state dollars) in a dormiciary account that belongs to a foreign customers a German business man. who unfortunately lost his life in the plane crash of Monday, 31 July, 2000 AF4590 crash , including his wife and his whole family. Visiting site at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm
On further investigation i discovered that his supposed next of kin being his only daughter died along with him in the plan crash. This money was lodged in the bank on the 19th July 2000 for business purposes. This sum of US$9,200,000.00 is still sitting in the branch bank. I have all the information to enhance the safe transfer of this money. I can not do this on my own because of my position in the bank hence i contacted you. Consequently, i will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin . I need your full name and address for the attorney to prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin.
The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 70% for me and 30% for you. Please this is highly confidential. Kindly go through the website and contact me for further details. I can send you my personal mobile number if you so desire.
Awaiting your urgent reply via my personal email:
Email: mrsmadeleiv@yahoo.co.uk
Thanks and regards,
Mrs Madeleine Vivian
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam