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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "million united states 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)
  • ",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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348051829072 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Micheal Osemekeme <barr_mich007@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 05:37:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Attention ; (Respond Urgent)


OSEMEKEME CHAMBERS

LEGAL PRACTITIONERS

3A OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY

VICTORIA ISLAND

LAGOS , NIGERIA

+234 805 182 9072


Attn:

I am Barrister Micheal Osemekeme , a legal Solicitor and I was the Personal Attorney and legal adviser to the late Mr.Edwin Moore , a national of your country, who used to work with Mobil Oil Company Nigeria Plc. On the 21st of August 2005, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu Express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Security Company where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Security Company where the deceased had
a deposit valued at about Thirty Million United States Dollars (USD$30,000,000.00) has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days. since I have beenunsuccessful in locating the relatives for over two years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are from the same country so that the proceeds of this account valued at Thirty Million United StatesDollars(USD$30,000,000.00) can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money. 55% to me and 40% to you, while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require,I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me through my direct mail box as provided herein to enable us discuss further.

Best regards

Barr.Micheal Osemekeme


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam