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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • bb1richard@terra.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Bob Richard" <bobrichard@accountant.com>
Reply-To: bb1richard@terra.com
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 19:57:28 +0100
Subject: Opportunity


Hello friend,



Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal
ethics. I introduce myself as Bob a former staff in the accounts management
Section of a well-known bank here in UK.



There is an account in our bank with holding balance of £15,000,000 (Fifteen
Million
British Pounds) which has been dormant and last operated in the past 5
years. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account
is a Foreigner by name Gerald Stone who died on the 4th of January 2002 in a
fatal Motor accident in Birmingham.



Since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money as
he has no family Member who is aware of the existence of neither the account
nor the funds. Information from the National Immigration also states that he
was single on entry into the UK



I have confidentially discussed this issue with some of the bank officials
and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. We thus
propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin to the
deceased and have the funds released to you after due processes have been
followed.



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.



If you are interested, contact me on bb1richard@terra.com



Regards,

Bob

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam