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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:
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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.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "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.
• 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.
  • barrister_richardhoware1@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Richard Howare" <barrister.richardhoware@telegraf.by>
Reply-To: barrister_richardhoware1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 09:58:24 -0700
Subject: From Richard Howare


CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
This mail transmission is been sent by a lawyer. It contains information
that is confidential, privileged, or otherwise legally exempt from
disclosure. There is no intent on the part of the sender to waive any
privilege,including the attorney-client privilege, that may attach to this
communication.


Dear Friend,
I am Mr.Richard Howare, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, by
name Mr. David Rollins,who hereinafter shall be referred to as my client,
died as the result of a heart-related condition in some years back. I have
contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client
before it is confiscated or declared serviceable by the bank where this
deposit valued at 10.million dollars is lodged here in Nigeria.

This Bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account
will be confiscated because there is a government
gazzette/mandate/authorising all banks to freeze or confiscate any
account that has not been serviciable in a long period of time,this is
geared towards capital flight for the economy.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, so that the proceeds of this
account can be paid to you.

Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. All legal
documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin will be provided.
All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction
through. This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of the law.

If this business proposition offends your moral values,do accept my apology
but if not, then contact me at once to indicate your interest,by giving me
your telephone/fax number so that i too can contact you.

You can reach me through this email. barrister_richardhoware1@yahoo.co.uk

Best regards,
Barrister Richard Howare

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam