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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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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "i will give you 35% " (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)
  • "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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.michael Starford" <michaelstarford0016@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <mrmichael1000@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:06:01 +0200
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS!!



From:Mr.Michael Starford.Address:8 Mitchley Road Tottenham London N17 9HGOccupations: External Auditor Hello, Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics although, I wish to use this medium to get in touch with you first because it's fastest means. I am an external auditor of a well known bank here in the United Kingdom. In one of our peroidic auditing I discorverd a dormant accounts with holding balance of 52,000,000 (Fifty Two Million British Pounds) which has not been operated for the past three years. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account, a oreigner by name Mr.Gregory .B.Wilson died in plane crash in July 19,2003 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 minister 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 possition he did not want to take active part but as soon as you follow my instructions everything will be successfull because we will be woking hand in hand with him. We thus propose to do business with you, 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 privelaged in the society because if we left 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 35% for your coporation, 5% will be for expenses both parties might have incurred during this process. On receipt of your response I will furnish you with detailed clarification as it relates to this mutual benefit transaction. 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 immediatelly with your account information.Even an empty account is ok. Bank Name..............Bank Address...........Beneficiary Name.......Account Number.........Swift Code.............Your Tel/Fax Number....Routing Number.........State & Country........ I look forward to hear from you as soon as possible if you are interested. Regards, Mr.Michael Starford.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam