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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)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "foreign remittance department" (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: jazak asim <jazak_asim173@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <jazakasim5@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 05:18:32 +0000
Subject: waiting for your reply



RE: REMITTANCE OF US$10,500,000FROM THE DESK OF Mr jazak asimDear FriendI am the manager of bill and exchange at the foreign remittance department of the Bank of Africa(BOA)BURKINA FASO. I am writing following the impressive information about you. I have the assurance that you are capable and reliable enough to champion an impending transaction. In my department, we discovered an abandoned sum of US$10.5m USD (Ten million, five hundred thousand US dollars), in an account that belonged to one of our former customers who died along with his entire family in a plane crash, in November, 2001. Since we received the information about his death, we expected his next of kin to come forward and claim his money, as enshrined in our banking laws and regulations.So far nobody has come forward, and we cannot release the funds unless someone applies as the next of kin as stipulated in our guidelines. Unfortunately, we have discovered that all his supposed next of kin or relations died alongside with him in the plane crash, and effectively leaving nobody behind to come forward and claim the balance left in his account.My colleagues and I want to take this once in a life time opportunity.It is consequent upon this discovery that other officials and I in my department decided to make this business proposal to you. We want to present you as the next of kin or relation of the deceased person. We intend to transfer the money into your account for safety and subsequent disbursement, since nobody is coming forward for it. If we lose this golden opportunity, the bank is going to return the money into the bank’s treasury as unclaimed bill.The bank’s regulation stipulates that if after seven years, such money remains unclaimed; the money will be reverted to the bank’s treasury as unclaimed fund. The request for a foreigner as the next of kin in this transaction is predicated upon the fact that the said customer was a foreign national and no citizen of this country can claim to be the next of kin of a foreigner. We agree that 30% of the total sum we be given to you for your assistance in facilitating this transaction. My colleagues and I are going to retain 60% of the total sum, and 10% will be set aside for the expenses that we may incur in facilitating the remittance. To enable us effect this remittance, you must first apply as the next of kin of the deceased.Your application will include your bank co-ordinates, that is, your bank name, bank address and telex, your bank account.I want you also to include your private telephone no. and fax no. in your response to me, for easy and effective communication during this process. My colleagues and I will visit your country for disbursement according to the agreed ratio, when this transaction is concluded.Upon the receipt of your response, I will send to you the text of an application which you will use to apply to bank for payment of this to your bank account. I must not fail to bring to your notice the fact that this transaction is hitch free, and that you should not entertain any fear, as you are adequately protected from any form of embarrassment. Do respond to this letter today to enable us proceed with the transaction.Yours sincerely,Mr jazak asim



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam