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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united state 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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a "Yukos oil" scam. The criminals who send such emails have no connection to Yukos Oil. The emails are usually sent from Nigeria. The only money that ever changes hands in this scam is from you to the criminals.
• 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.
  • larisask@ml1.net

Fraud email example:

From: "Larisa Sosnitskaya" <larisasoslj@russiamail.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:37:44 -0100
Subject: From Larisa

Dear friend,

My name is Mrs. Larisa Sosnitskaya, Personal Assistant to Mr. Boris
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the arrested Chairman/ CEO of Yukos Oil and Bank
Menatep SPB in Russia who is presently in jail.

I have the documents of a large amount of funds which he handed over
to me before he was detained and tried in Russia for financing
political parties (the Union of Right Forces, led by Boris Nemtsov and
Yabloko, a Liberal/ Social Democratic Party led by Gregor Yavlinsky)
opposed to the Government of Mr. Vladmir Putin, the current President
of Russia, thereby leading to the freezing of his finances and assets.
You can read more about his ordeal from the following sites:
Http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3213505.stm
Http://www.supportmbk.com
Http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2005/03/29/58914.html

After searching through the books of your Country's Chambers of
Commerce and Industries here in Russia, I am contacting you to assist
me to re-profile the funds and equally invest same on his behalf. The
total amount of funds to be re-profiled is Forty Six Million United
State Dollars (USD$46,000,000.00) and you will be paid 20% for your
management services.

As soon as I receive your acceptance through my personal email
address: larisask@ml1.net



I will send you the necessary details and my personal identification
documents.

Yours Sincerely,
Mrs. Larisa Sosnitskaya.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam