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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:

• 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:
  • "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million british pounds" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • st_balmond@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Serota Balmond <st_balmond8@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: st_balmond@myway.com
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:35:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Mr Senoreta Balmond


From Mr Senoreta Balmond
98 Blackburn Street London HGD 9NG.
External Auditor

Good Day,

I am aware that this is certainly an unconventional approach in starting a relationship and it might come to you as a surprise and the temptation to ignore it could come into your mind; but please consider it a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility.

I am an external auditor of a well-known bank here in the United Kingdom. In one of our periodic auditing I discovered a dormant accounts with holding balance of 150,000,000 (One Hundred & Fifty Million British Pounds), which has not been operated for the past three years.

From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account is a foreigner who died long ago and since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because he has no family members who are aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds.

I have secretly discussed this matter with a top senior official of the Federal Ministry of Finance here and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with us although due to his position he did not want to take active part but as soon as you follow my instructions everything will be successful because we will be working hand in hand with him.

The main purpose of doing this business with you is for you to standing in as the next of kin of these funds from the deceased and after due legal processes have been followed the fund will be released to your account without delay and we will use it for investment and to assist the less privileged in the societies because if we ignore the fund with the government it will be fortified for nothing and will be used to suppress the poor masses in the society.

This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act. Finally, I will give you 40% for your cooperation, 10% will be for miscellaneous expenses that both parties might have incurred during this process. I would want you to understand that this is a DEAL.

On receipt of your response I will furnish you with detailed clarification as it relates to this mutual benefit transaction. Do contact me immediately whether you are or not interested in this deal. If you are not, it will enable me scout for another foreign Partner to carry out this deal. But if you are interested, contact me URGENTLY for more details as time is of the essence in this business.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in real estate within your country.

You should send me your account information as states below where you like the money to be transfer so that I can send application for the release of the fund immediately with your account information. Even an empty account is ok.

Bank Name.................
Bank Address...................
Beneficiary Name...................
Account Number.........................
Swift Code..................................
Your Tel/Fax Numbers...........................
State & Country....................................


I look forward to hear from you as soon as possible if you are interested
private email (st_balmond@myway.com)

Regards,
Mr Senoreta Balmond
*********************************************************************************************
*Disclaimer: This message is intended only for the use
of the individual who is interested in the Bussiness
and may contain information which is privileged,
confidential, proprietary and exception from disclosure
under applicable law. If you are not the intended
recipient or the person responsible for delivering the
message to the intended recipient, you are strictly
prohibited from disclosing, distributing, copying or
in any way using this message. If you have received
this communication in error, please notify the sender,
and destroy and delete any copies you may have
received.* Thank you * Mr Balmond




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam