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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "million 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447040128419 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Willaims & Spencer Solicitors " <williamspencer@nonifamily.net>
Date: Sun, 18 May 2008 04:10:21 +0530 (IST)
Subject: Williams & Spencer Solicitors /Reply Asap

Williams & Spencer Solicitors
7 Bolt Court,
London EC8A 5DQ
Tell: 44-7040128419
Tell: 44-7011121011
Fax: 44-87-1247-2209

Attn Sir/Madam,

I am Williams F Higgins A legal practitioner based in united Kingdom.
I am the personal attorney to Dr. George Brumley who was a consultant
with Shell UK LTD here in London, who shall be referred to as my client.
On the 21st of July 2003, my client Dr. George Brumley and his family
were involved in a fatal plane crash in Nairobi Kenya, West Africa.
Unfortunately my client Mr. George and his family lost their lives.
Here is the website of the incident that struck on that faithful day.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.html
Since then I have made several inquiries to locate any of my clients
extended relatives and this has proved unsuccessful.
After my several unsuccessful attempts to locate any member of his family
hence I contacted you.

I am contacting you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by
my client before they get confiscated or declared unclaimed by the security
company where this huge deposit were lodged.
Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had the said fund
valued at USD20 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the
next of kin.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 3 years,
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased
so that the proceeds of this account valued at $20 Million Dollars can
be paid to your account abroad, you will have 30% of the money for your
role while I will have 60% and 10% for expenses that we may incur in
the cause of processing the claim.

I have access to all necessary legal documents that can be used to back
up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to
enable us seeing this deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Please kindly get back to me through my email address or personal phone
number for confidentiality and send to me your telephone and fax numbers
to enable us discuss further about this transaction.

Best regards,

Yours in Service,
Williams F Higgins Esq

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam