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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "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)
  • "barr." (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.
  • mcmillanwhitesolicitors@yahoo.co.uk

Fraud email example:

From: MANAGING PARTNER WHITE MCMILLAN SOLICITO <mcmillanwhitesolicitors@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 06 Jul 2008 13:32:58 -0400
Subject: NOTICE OF BEQUEST/ESTATE EXECUTION


MANAGING PARTNER WHITE MCMILLAN SOLICITORS & CO
99 Old Street London, EC1V 9DR England

NOTICE OF BEQUEST

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate
of Late Engr. Luther Schroeder, I once again try to
notify you as my earlier letter returned undelivered.
I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email
address on the WILL. I wish to notify you that Late
Engr. Luther Schroeder made you a beneficiary to his WILL.
He left the sum of twenty two million five hundred
thousand United States Dollars ($22,500.000.00 USD) to you
in the codicil and last testament to his WILL.

This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but
it is real and true. Being a widely travelled man,
he must have been in contact with you in the past or
simply you were recommended to him by one of his
numerous friends abroad who wished you good.
Engr. Luther Schroeder until his death was a member
of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of
Electronic & Electrical Engineers.
He had a very good heart and was a philantropist.
His great philanthropy earned him numerous awards
during his life time. Late Engr. Luther Schroeder
died on the 13th day of December, 2004
at the age of 80 years, and his WILL is now ready
for execution.

According to him this money is to support your
humanitarian activities and to help the poor and
the needy in our society. Please if I reach you
this time as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to
me as soon as possible to enable me conclude my job.

I hope to hear from you in no distant time through
the email address below.

Email: mcmillanwhitesolicitors@yahoo.co.uk

Kindest regards,
Barr. Michael White (Esq).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam