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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Russell Gell." <rgell@livedoor.com>
Reply-To: rgells@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Thu, 29 May 2008 11:15:06 +0100
Subject: Dear Sir / Madam


Dear Sir / Madam

I apologize to you for any inconveniences caused if this mail does not meet
your demands,though I do not intend to embarrass you by the contents of this
very mail.I am Barrister Russell Gell. I was the personal Attorney to Late
Engr N.S.Ammo,Who was a citizen of your Country but lived and did his
business here in London with his family and he was the CEO of Ammons Group
of companies and Ivory Cannons before his sudden death along with his
family.

This mail is written to solicit your assistance to present you as next of
kin to my Late Client.Before his sudden death,he made a fixed Deposit valued
at USD21,Million ( Twenty One Million United States Dollars Only) with a
bank here. Unfortunately he lost his life aboard Egypt Air Flight 990, which
crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on October 31, 1999.He left no clear
beneficiary as Next of Kin .The Bank has searched for the relatives for more
than four years without any success and after 6 years,no claims are made by
any of the deceased next of kin,the money will be sent to unclaimed accounts
and embezzled by the corrupt bank or government officials. It is against
this bank drop that the bank has contacted me as the Late depositor's
Attorney to contact and present to them my late Client's next of kin so that
the deposit can be paid to him or her.

This is why I have contacted you.Who ever I present to the bank as the next
of kin will be accepted and therefore I wish to present you . Upon your
acceptance, I shall give you other details for the successful claim of the
fund. I have secured from the probate registry, an order of Mandamus to
locate any of the deceased beneficiaries, and more so I am assuring you that
this business is 100% risk free. If this proposal is acceptable by you,
please endeavor to reply me immediately,if not please disregard this
email.Thank you very much for your anticipated acceptance while I expect
your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,
Russell Gell Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam