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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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• 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +31645431146 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "admissions" <admissions@hccs.edu>
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:12:54 -0500
Subject: Greetings and compliments.

Dear Friend,

Greetings and compliments.

I am Michael Anderson, a solicitor at law. I was the personal attorney to Eng. Gilbert M. Reain, a national of your country who used to work with an oil servicing company here in the Netherlands thereof be referred to as my client.
Eng. Gilbert M. Reain, 62 years of age made a fixed deposit of fund valued at
USD$12,500,000 (Twelve Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) with a Finance Company here in Europe and unfortunately lost his life in an Egyptian charter plane Boeing 737 which crashed into the Red Sea early on January 3 shortly after taking off from the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all the 135 passengers and 13 crew members aboard, Ref: (View:http://english.people.com.cn/200401/04/eng20040104_131791.shtl).

He left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the deposit still in my possession. Recently, the governing body of the Finance Company contacted me on this matter, requesting that I should notify the next of kin of my late client to claim the funds and I am yet to provide the Next of Kin to lay claims to the Fund.

I know that my client had no living next of kin but I went ahead and made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my late client's extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful. Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin, so that my late client's funds will not be confiscated by the Finance Company.

You and I can share the money, you will be entitled to 40% of the total fund for your role as the relative and next of kin of my late client, 50% for me while 10% is to be map out for any expenses that will be incurred during the clearance or process of transfer of the fund to your bank account. Be informed that there is no risk involved as all necessary legal documents that will be used to back you up as the legal beneficiary and next of kin of my late
client will be procured.

All I require is your sincerity, honesty; co-operation and utmost good faith to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Kindly, get in touch with me by my e-mail (michael90ander@yahoo.cn) or telephone to enable us discuss further. You may also send your telephone number so that I can call you.

Do not forget that a transaction of this magnitude requires utmost Confidentiality and sincerity. I look forward to your urgent response.

Thank you,
Regards
Michael ANDERSON
Phone: +31-645-431-146
michael90ander@yahoo.cn

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam