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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.
• 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.
  • billy_chan@consultant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <billy_chan@consultant.com>
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2008 07:26:40 -1000
Subject: Investment funds

?????,??
Dear Sir

My name is Billy Chan, I am for the most part a legal consultant of a Hong
Kong owned private
bank with over $80 Billion under Management. I am writing regarding the
contents of a certain
numbered account whose holder passed away under tragic circumstances.

Since the demise of the account holder. My firm has been contacted
regarding establishing the
legitimacy or otherwise of any claim that may arise in furtherance of the
administration of the late
account holders estate. Unfortunately the account holder died intestate and
efforts to locate a
legitimate successor have proved abortive so far. The statutory period for
establishing a claim has
all but lapsed . At the expiration of this period we will have to submit a
report to the bank and the
estate of the demised account holder will statutorily revert to the State
on disclosure.I do not want
to bore you with legal jargon but I need to mention that the country in
question respects the laws
of intestate succession which would mean that without a valid will the
estate will revert to a
surviving relative of the deceased anywhere in the world as long as lineage
can be established .We
( my colleagues and I) will be willing to compensate you handsomely for you
to present yourself as
the next of kin of the demised account holder. We would make the necessary
representation and
documentation available for you to establish this claim without incident
but we all have to be
prepared to go the legal distance.

Specifically we would be willing to compensate you with 10% of a perceived
inheritance exceeding
$52million. I would not be able to disclose any further information
regarding this transaction till
you indicate serious intent .

I can be contacted via this temporary medium : billy_chan48@yahoo.cn and I
will furnish you
preliminary details to assuage your misgivings (if any) presently. I will
give you my contact Telephone
numbers in Hong Kong if further discussions are necessary following
initial contact.

Thank you for your patience.
Billy Wai Ming Chan
billy_chan@consultant.com
Fax: +852-3010-5815
?????,??

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam