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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (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.
  • s_martins_22@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Smith Martins <sm-s.52@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <s_martins_22@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:33:25 -0400
Subject: Hello : Othman



Hello : Othman
EMAIL : ( s_martins_22@yahoo.com ) I am Barrister Smith Martins a Legal practitioner to the Harmony law Chambers , situated at Lagos-Nigeria . I am the personal attorney to Mr. Othman a national of your country , who used to work with Shell Development Company in Nigeria , Here in after shall be referred to as my client . On the 21st of April 2002 , my client , his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along Lagos express road . All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives . Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here 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 fund valued at US$10.5million left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security Finance Firm where this huge amount were deposited . The said Security Finance company has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next fourteen official workingdays . Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 4 years now , I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you have the same last names , so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you , Therefore , on receipt of your positive response , we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer . I have all the necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim . All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law . Best regards ,Smith Martins .
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam