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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348038228488 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Chuks Jacob <chuksj214@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <cjacob_01@excite.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:24:34 +0100
Subject: Request



Dear Sir,

I am Barrister Chukwudi Jacob, attorney to one of your nationals who is an expatriate mechanical engineering contractor with the Shell Petroleum Company, hereinafter called “My client”. He died in a car crash on 22/08/2005. Unfortunately, he did not leave any direct information that can locate his relatives and I am saddled with the responsibility.

However, every effort to locate relatives of my client (deceased) has proved abortive; I decided to contact you based on you bear the same surname with my client thus I need your help to secure the release of his contract payment ($9 million) in the bank. The payment has long remained unclaimed and must be collected before 20/12/2007 otherwise it would be reverted to the State by escheat. As it were, my late client left no direct information that can locate or identify his relatives; rather than leave the fund confiscated I plead your cooperation to help collect the fund as you bear the same surname with my client.

I have the required information and locus standi by all powers granted in applicable laws to carry out all provisions and procedures of this matter, and the privilege to obtain on your behalf a Grant of Representation from the Probate Registry that will to establish you “Heir” of my client and certify you to collect the fund. Please contact me as soon as possible, any time at 00234-803-8228488 or e-mail.

Yours faithfully,
Chukwudi Jacob
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam