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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:
  • "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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: John Mendiola <barrjohnmendiola24@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <barrjohn_mendiola7595@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:03:23 -0400
Subject: Attn: Wouters



Attn: Wouters,

I am John Mendiola a solicitor at law. I am the Personal Attorney to Engineer David Wouters, a National of your Country, who has lived in Nigeria for the past fifty years, and whom here in after shall be referred to as my client.

On April 21/ 2002 , my client, was involved in a fatal car accident along sagbamu express road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunatelylost their lives, my client was one of them. 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 this huge deposits were lodged.

Particularly, the Standard Trust Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $12.5 million u.s. dollars has issued me a notice to provide the Next of kin, or have the account confiscated. I seek your consent to present you as the Next of kin of the deceased since you havethe same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at $12.5million u.s. 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 beprovided.
Please forward the below information as soon as you read this email: Your full name: Your contact address: Your direct telephone number: I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me to enable us discuss further about this transaction as soon as you receive this email I await your urgent response. Best Regards, John Mendiola (Esq)

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam