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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "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)
  • "million us 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.
  • barr_louisibe@yahoo.co.in (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Louis Ibe <louisibe001@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <barr_louisibe@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2007 23:24:28 +0100
Subject: Dear Gay,



Dear Gay, I am Barrister Louis Ibe,a Solicitor at law and the personal attorney to late Engr.David Gay,a National of your country, who used to be a private contractor with the Shell Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria, herein after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2001, he and his newly married wife were involved in an auto crash, all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then, I have made several enquiries to locateany of my clients extended relatives, this has also proven unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you with this business partnership proposal. I contacted you to assist in repatriating a huge amount of money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where these huge deposit was lodged.The deceased had a deposit valued presently at$15million US Dollars with a bank here and the Bank has issued me a notice as his lawyer to provide his next of kin or Beneficiary by Will otherwise have theaccount confiscated within the next thirty official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over four years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin / Will Beneficiary to the deceased since you are bearing the same last name,so that the proceeds of this account valued at $15Million USdollars can be paid to you. This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to you. I have the means to provide all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.All I require is your honest Co-operation,Confidentiality and Trust to enable us see this transaction through.I guarantee you 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 urgently by E-mail:(barr_louisibe@yahoo.co.in) and provide me the following information to enable us go for the claim of the fund from the Depositing Bank in Lagos. Send to me the following information to let me file a letter of claim to the bank with the information as the beneficairy information of were they should effect the payment of the fund: 1.Your full Name.2.Your Telephone Number and Fax Number.3.Your Contact Address.4.Occupation. Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated. Best regards,Barrister Louis Ibe.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam