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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "first national bank" (not involved with lotteries)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +22993609138 (Benin, probably a prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • szrealbox2009@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Solomon Zulu" <dezulu1918@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <szrealbox2009@yahoo.fr>
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:19:47 -0500
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT LETTER.YOU HAS TO READ.





From: Sir Solomon Kwaweto Zulu
Carre 20/25, Aijaedo BP: 2971,
Cotonou Benin Republic.
Email: szrealbox2009@yahoo.fr
Phone: +22993609138

Dearest,

I am Sir Solomon Kwaweto Zulu, one of the Directors of First National Bank, Cotonou, Benin Republic.

On the 2nd of January 2005, I received a call that one of my customer died in the Tsunami Disaster with his wife and only child while on vacation at Phuket Island in Thailand.

Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my customer extended relatives and until date have not succeeded. I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before it gets confiscated by our bank or declared unserviceable by our bank where this deposit is lodged.

Now, the bank Directors has called a board meeting regarding this Fund. So my main motive right now is to share this great opportunity with you by presenting you as the Next of Kin to the Deceased since all his banking details are with me as his personal Account Officer. And the deceased Account valued at US$49,000.000 (Forty Nine Million United States Dollars). Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the biological relatives of my late client, I hereby seek your consent to present you to the bank as next-of-kin of the deceased since you are a foreigner, so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$49,000.000 Millions can be transferred to you as inheritance and thereafter, you and me can share the money; 50% to me and 40% to you, while 10% will be donated to the Tsunami Disaster Charity Fund.

We shall start the first transfer with US$9,000.000.00 (Nine Million United States Dollars only), upon the successful actualization of the first transfer without any disappointment from your side, we shall re-apply for the release of the remaining payment to your account. I have the original copy of the deceased Last Statement of Account, which will be used to substantiate our inheritance claims. All I require is your consent and honest co-operation to enable us see the deal through.

Furthermore, I guarantee that the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please contact me if you are interested immediately via my personal email: szrealbox2009@yahoo.fr to enable us proceeds for success conclusion of this business.

Thank you.
With best regards, Sir Solomon Kwaweto Zulu.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam