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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Stephen Lawley" <mrstevelawley@aol.de> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mrlawley@claranet.de
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2007 19:45:32 +0200
Subject: RE: NEXT OF KIN


Mr=2E Stephen Lawley=2E
Europe=2E

Email=3A mrlawley=40claranet=2Ede

Dear Friend=2E
RE=3A NEXT OF KIN OF LATE ROBERT


Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal
ethics=2C but let it remains as top secret for only you and I=2E

I will introduce myself as Mr=2E Lawley=2C a staff in the Accounts Management
Section of a well-known bank in Europe=2E

One of our accounts with holding balance of US$20=2C000=2C000 =28Twenty Millions
US Dollars=29 has been Dormant and has not been operated for the past 5
years=2E

From my investigation and confirmation=2C the owner of this account a
foreigner died in August 2000 and since his death nobody has done anything
as regards the claiming of this money because he has no family members who were aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds=2C also
information from the National Immigration stated that he was also single on
entry into Europe=2E

I had discussed this matter with some of my bank top officials and we have
agreed to find a reliable partner to deal with=2E Hence=2C I am propsing to do
business with you by presenting you as the NEXT OF KIN to the deceased=2C and funds will be released to you after due processes have been followed and necessary documentation to back this up will be presented since you all
have the same LAST NAME=2E

This transaction is totally 100% free of risk and troubles as the fund is
legitimate and does not originate from Drug=2C Money Laundry=2C Terrorism or
any other illegal act=2E

If you agree to do this deal with me=2C after a successful completion of this
transaction we intend to give you 30% and 10% for whatever expenses that we both may incur=2C while 60% of the total amount will be for us which we also
intend to invest in your country in any good business venture that you will
introduce=2E

If you are interested=2C send me the following information via e-mail to me
so that we can start processing this transaction=3A -

1=2E Complete Names =28First and Last Names=29
2=2E Full Address=2E
3=2E Phone and Fax numbers =28for proper communication=2E=29
4=2E Occupation
5=2E Age and Marital Status=2E


Thank you for your understanding and please reply to mrlawley=40claranet=2Ede

Regards=2C

Mr=2E Stephen Lawley=2E

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam