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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:

• 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:
  • "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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.)
• 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.
  • barristerleeming003@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: LEE & ASSOCIATES <barristerleeming003@yahoo.com.hk>
Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 01:24:15 +0200
Subject: Urgent and Confidential


LEE & ASSOCIATES
SUITE 12.05, LEVEL 12, MENARA TJB
NO 9, JALAN SYED MOHD MUFTI
80000 JOHOR BAHRU
MALAYSIA


Greetings,

This mail might come to you as a surprise and the temptation to ignore it as unserious could come into your mind; but please consider it a divine wish and accept it with a deep sense of humility. I am Barrister Lee Ming Yong, An Attorney at law based in Malaysia, South East Asia, My late client was a private oil Consultant/Contractor with the Shell Petroleum Development Company in Malaysia before his death.

My client, his wife and his three children lost their life in the 2004 tsunamis natural disaster while on their holiday in Phuket Thailand. It may interest you to know that my client died "in testate".
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/27/asia.quake/

PROPOSITION:
I decided to contact you purely on the personal conviction of trust and confidence to assist in distributing the funds left behind by my client. The deceased had a deposit valued presently at (US $9,000,000) and his Bank has issued me a notice to provide his next of kin or beneficiary by will, otherwise the account would be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as a relative/next-of-kin and beneficiary of my client, so that the proceeds of this account could be paid to you.

Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided, I have contacted an attorney that will prepare the necessary document All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through and also you shall provide me with your Full Names and Address so that the attorney can commence his job. After you have been made the next of kin; the attorney will also fill in for claims on your behalf and secure the necessary approval and letter of probate in your favour for the move of the funds to an account that will be provided by you.

This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential, whatever your decision, while I await your prompt response.

Please contact me at once to indicate your interest. Further response should be sent to the email contact address.
Email: barristerleeming003@yahoo.com.hk

Finally after that I shall provide you with more details of this operation. Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Best regards,
Barrister. Lee Ming Yong.
(Principal Partner)
Lee & Associates

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam