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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:

• 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:
  • "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. )
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
  • "cotonou" (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 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.
  • barr_tom_harvest1@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: barr_tom harvest <barr_tomharvest10@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2007 18:14:35 +0000
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME



PLEASE GET BACK TO METOM HARVEST.& CO. CHAMBERS (ATTORNEYS&COUNSELORS AT LAW) FEDERAL HIGH COURT BENIN WHITE-HOUSE BUILDING, 25DEGBAGO CRESCENT COTONOU REPUBLIC OF BENIN.
Attn: Compliments, I Barrister Tom Harvest. Have decided to bestow this trust on you, which I pray you will not ignore or betray. I apologized in advance for any inconveniences this may cause you. As stated above, i remains Barrister Idubaba the Personal Attorney to late Mr. Michael Gill, who was a contractor here in Benin Rep.Who, on December 2003, with his entire family were perished in Air -Crash on board from Cotonou. http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash As a matter of fact, my client made a fixed deposit Amount, valued at (USD$15M) with Cemac Bank here in Benin Rep, and upon the duration time of their agreement, his bank started contacting him but no response. Consequently, The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin to the deceased as his personal attorney, or have his account confiscated after four years, as it is in the law of this country. Since then, I have made several contacts to His Country’s Embassy in order to locate any of my clients extended relatives, which had also been unsuccessful. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over four years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since none of his relatives were no way to be found so that the proceeds of this account valued at $15million could be transferred into your account, thereafter, we will both share it in percentage according to our contributions to boost the success of this great transaction. I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up all the claims we will make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us making this great benefiting transaction successfully. 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 as fast as possible through this email address (barr_tom_harvest1@yahoo.fr) to enable us discuss further the progress of this business
Best Regards, Bar. Tom HarvestSenior advocate of Benin (SAB).
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam