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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)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • "trunk box" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • contact.samsonchambers@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: "Samson BARRISTER Mitte" <contact.samsonchambers@mailbox.hu>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 21:54:32 +0200
Subject: Need your cooperation.


*FROM BARRISTER SAMSON MITTE.
Head, Samson-Mitte Legal House Firm,
St. Jean Quartier des Elites,
Cotonou-Benin Republic.
Office Email : **contact.samsonchambers@yahoo.fr*<contact.samsonchambers@yahoo.fr>
*
To Your Attn: Dear friend,

I am sorry if this will come to you as a surprise. However, I'm writting you
based on my extensive search for a honest partner to realise a transaction
which we will both benefit from. Though a transaction of this magnitude will
make any one apprehensive, but never you worry as all the details in my file
has a proof to my proposal and the information(s) I'm going to review to you
here.

I am Barrister. Samson Mitte, a solicitor at law,personal attorney to my
LATE client Mr Morgan Graper, who worked with Shell Development Company in
Republic of Togo in my country in early 80's, Herein after shall be referred
to as my client. On December 26 2004, my client and his beloved wife with
their only daugther, unfortunately lost there lives in the earthquake of
unami-ravaged, it was a pity and since then, I have made several enquiries
to locate any of my client's extended relatives. This has also been proved
unsuccessful to locate my late client's relatives.

After unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track the late client's last name
if I can locate any of his relatives hence I have contacted you to assist me
in repatriating the huge amount of money he kept in a TRUNK BOX and left
behind. I contacted you as a partner with trust before it gets confiscated
or declared unclaimed by the Security Company where this amount was
deposited as a family valuables.

The said security company has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin
within a short period as they can't continue holding the fund's box to their
security vault hence the its original onwer is now late. Reasons why I'm
searching for a partner to proclaim the trunk box before the security
company declares it as an abandone propertity to be profited by them alone.

I therefore seek your attention to present you as the next of kin to enherit
the deceased client's funds so that the proceedings of this box can be
transferred to you with trust. On receipt of your positive response, we
shall discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transferring it to your
country as I have every necessary and legal documents to back you for the
claim.

Your nationality or relationship with the late client does not matter in
this case as all I need is your positive respond so that we can both achieve
this aim together with undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed on you
before contacting you. Your name and address are the information (s) we need
as to present you to the security company with my personal application and
recommendation of your person as the beneficiary to inherit the funds.

Your honest co-operation will enable us see this transaction through while I
guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of the law. As you may know, I cannot fail to
the rules of law and I don't want a third party with us. This should be
secret between us and if we act fast, we will not spend less than normal
working official days to get it cleared from the security company to your
country.

Provide me your contact number for oral conversation.*

*Yours Sincerely,
Barrister Samson Mitte.*

**

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam