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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.

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:
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • barr_sompakdee@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Somchai Pakdee" <b_smpakdee@myway.com> (may be fake)
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:14:42 +0700
Subject: Hello!

BARR.SOMCHAI PAKDEE ESQ.
10240 RAMKHAMHAENG,
BANGKOK THAILAND.
E-MAIL:....................

Attn:Sir/Madam,

WITH FULL DEEP RESPECT AND HUMILITY I KNOW THIS LETTER MAY COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE THIS IS MY INTRODUTORY MESSAGE AND WE HAVE NEVER MEET BEFORE.

I am Mr. Somchai Pakdee, a legal practitioner with Somchai Law Firm in Bangkok Thailand.

I saw your contact and profile and decided that you could cooperate with me in this proposition.

I have a client who was deceased in November 2001 in Bangkok Thailand.I am contacting you because you have the same surname as my deceased client and i felt that you could help me in the distribution of funding that were left in my deceased client's bank account. This funding is closed to be declared un-serviceable by the bank as there were no indicated next of kin or next of beneficiary of the funding in the bank account.

The total amount of cash in the bank account of my deceased client is US$ 5.2 Million (Say,Five Million, two Hundred Thousand United States dollars Only ),

The bank had issued to me a notification to contact the next of kin of my deceased client for either to re-activate the bank account or to make claim of beneficiary,of the funding in the bank account, with a month surcharge of 6% to be deducted as an Escrow safe keeping fee of the bank account,so as to avoid the indefinite closure of the bank account.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent, and to present your kind self as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my deceased client, since you have the same last name with him.

This means that the proceeds of his bank account would be paid to you as his next of kin or the legitimate beneficiary. When the proceeds in his bank account are paid to you,we would share the proceeds on a mutually agreed-upon percentage of 60% to me and 40% to your kind self.

All the legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin would be provided by me. The most important thing I would need is your honest cooperation in this proposition. This would be done under a legitimate arrangement that would protect you from any breach of the law.

Sorry and overlook this business proposition if it offends your moral and ethic values,but please contact me at once if you're interested by replying through my private E-mail: barr_sompakdee@yahoo.com.

Yours Sincerely,
Barr.Somchai Pakdee Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam