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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • l_ali38@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Liaqat Ali <aliliaqat42@yahoo.ie>
Date: Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:35:52 +1100
Subject: Reply today, please.


>From The Desk Of:
Mr. Liaqat Ali.
National Bank of Abu Dhabi.
Near Etisalat Telecom,
Opposite Sheraton Hotel,
Deira, Dubai.
United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.)
Email: l_ali38@excite.com

Dear Friend,
Assalama`laikum,
Well, I am sincerely sorry for bugging into your privacy, its due
to a business deal in my bank of which I require your kind and
honest assistance. Please let this massage not be a surprise to you
because I got your information and lay trust in you before I contacted
you. My name is Mr. Liaqat Ali, the Branch Manager, National Bank of Abu
Dhabi, (Dubai Branch). I have an urgent and very confidential business
proposition for you.
An America consultant and construction company Mr. Thomas Stone made a
numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at
US$12,000,000.00 (Twelve Million United State Dollars) in my branch.
Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address
but got no reply, and after a month we sent a reminder and finally we =
discovered
from his contract employers, American consultant construction company that
Thomas Stone died in a plane crash in Egypt Air Flight-990; 1999 air crash.

For more information about this person and the crash, you can contact
this website:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/11/01/iran/main49778.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm

Since we got this information about his death and on further
investigation I found out that he died without making a 'WILL' and
all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made
further investigation and discovered that Mr. Thomas Stone did not
declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his
Bank Deposit paperwork in my bank.
This sum of US$12,000,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the
interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each
year. No one will ever come forward to claim it.
According to the Laws of United Arab Emirates, at the expiration of 8
(eight) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the (U.A.E)
Government, if nobody applies to claim the fund.
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to
stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Thomas Stone so that the fruits of
this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt
government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide
immediately your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare
the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place as the next =
of kin.

We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and
notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and
letter of probate administration in your favor for the transfer.
A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide will then
facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. =

The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of
70% for me and 30% for you. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork
for this transaction will be done by the attorney, and my position as
the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of this
transaction.
If you are interested, please reply immediately via My Private Email
address above.
Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and
relevant documents that will help you understand this transaction.
Please send me your confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy
communication.
Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall
require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

Awaiting your urgent reply via my confidential email address:
l_ali38@excite.com

My Best Regards,
Mr. Liaqat Ali.
NBAD, Dubai.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam