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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:
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "urgent assistance" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Felix Borro" <felixborro@amele.com>
Reply-To: felix_borro@mynet.com
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:55:54 +0000
Subject: Your Urgent Response Needed.


From: Mr Felix Borro
Bill and Exchange manager,
Bank Of Africa Ouagadougou Burkina Faso.



My dear,



I chose to reach you through this medium because it is the fastest and most
reliable way of communication, as I wish to solicit for your urgent
assistance in what I strongly believe will be of great benefit to both of
us.



I am Mr Felix Borro, an Accounts Manager with BANK OF AFRICA in Burkina Faso
. The issue I am presenting to you is a case of one of my late customer, a
national of USA who died in a plane crash leaving an unclaimed treasury
bills (Bonds) with my bank.



In 2003, my late customer invested in treasury bill bonds here in my Bank in
Ouagadougou totalling 25.3 million USA Dollars ($25,300,000.00) which was
due to be collected in 2005 with accrued dividends. On my yearly appraisal
of my customers at the turn of every year, I discovered that this fixed
deposit remained overdue for retrieval. I had put up series of mails and
bank notifications to him which were sent Back uncollected. I later
discovered that he passed on along with his wife and his relations in a
tragic air crash in June 2003.



Since his death in 2003, I have managed his account expecting any of his
extended relatives to come forward to claim his money but all attempts to
trace his relatives over the years has been fruitless since he did not
declare any of his relative's information in his banking records with us.
Added to this, professional ethics obligates us to act with extreme
confidentiality when dealing with clients accounts of this type.



According to the banking law, the money will be bequeathed to the government
if it remains unclaimed with the next couple months. However, I don't belong
to that school of thought who proposes that the fortunes of unlucky people
be given to the government and I am fully convinced that no one would turn
up to execute the letter of Administration to claim his funds before the
next 2 months. Hence, I decided to contact you to come in as the next of kin
to my late customer so that the funds totalling $25,300,000.00 can then
be transferred to your nominated bank account in your country within 20
working days after we have filed in your claims transfer application to the
bank.



I will prepare every operation that will assist you to claim the funds as
the next of kin and everything will be left between you and me. The Share
would be 40% for you and 60% for me.



Again, I feel that you may be apprehensive and consider this amount too big
for you to defend. It does not matter, as there are documents to back it up.
This transaction is risk free and as the most senior account manager with
the bank is rest assured that all documents to enable you get this fund as
the next of kin will be carefully worked. Do not be bothered that you are
not related in any way to my late customer as I am in position to affix your
name as the next of kin.



Kindly send your reply enclosing your Full Names, Mailing Address and Phone
Number to my email address for confidentiality, to enable me talk to you
before I send you the certificate of deposit and other relevant information
relating to this fund transfer.



I need not emphasize the confidentiality of this issue and I therefore
appeal to you not discuss this request with anybody, even if you decline to
take full advantage of this great and urgent opportunity in my bank.



I look forward to your quick reply.



Sincerely,
Mr Felix Borro

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam