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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: James Mike <jsmik7@pilotoprivado.es>
Reply-To: js_mik@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:22:52 +0000
Subject: PRIVATE MEMO FROM MR.JAMES MIKE

Dear Friend,

I am a staff of one of the leading banks in Ghana. I will give you the name
of my bank and other important information if I receive a positive reply
from you. For security reasons I cannot disclose my full identity to you
now until I am sure of your cooperation. I work in the operations dept
where I serve as account officer to numerous customers.

One of the customers whom I worked as his account officer was a wealthy
German property magnate. His Name Is Andreas Schranner , He died with his
wife,His daughter and her husband with his grand children on Monday, 31
July, 2000. You can check on the website for more informations:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/859479.stm



Because this man was good to me when he was alive, I took it upon myself to
travel to his country last month, to see if I could locate any of his close
relations.On reaching there I discovered that his only surviving uncle died
a few months back. I sponsored this trip on my own and nobody in the bank
knew I was undertaking the journey so I did not present any official report
of my findings in the bank.

Now there are two things I could do with regards to the money. First, as
his accounts officer, I could formally notify the bank authorities that the
man is dead and has no next of kin. In this case the money would be
forfeited to the government after some time. As a matter of fact this is
the proper thing I am supposed to do.Another thing I can do is to arrange
for someone else, a foreigner that he will claim the money. This is the
option that I can do to help anybody and myself since the money actually is
public fund.

I want you to be my partner. All you would have to do is act as the next
of kin of the dead man and the whole money in the account will be
transferred to your account. As the accounts officer to the late man, I
have all the necessary documents that will require claiming the money in
the account. The total money in the account is USD25.5 million. Your share
will be 40%, which is USD 8,million. My colleague and i will share 60%.
Reach me immediately by mail so that I can give you further details. You
need to provide me with the following informations:

1) Your Full Names:

2) Your Address and Telephone Number/Fax

3) Your Occupation and Age:

As soon as i hear from you, I will give you the details and procedures of
the transaction.

Thanks .

Mr. James Mike.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam