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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • attorneythor@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr Eric Thor ESQ." <attorneythor@ad.e2.exmx.net>
Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:31:28 -0400
Subject: Please Act Accordingly



Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Barr Eric Thor, Attorney to late Dr. George Brumley. I seek your consent to present you as Next of kin to my late client, who deposit (US$14.7M) in Bank before he involved in plane crash along with all his family in an Kenya Airline. You can confirm from the website below.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.html

Every attempt to trace any member of his family has proved abortive and unsuccessful. I want to present you as the Next of kin to avoid having it confiscated and declared unserviceable by the bank where the huge deposits were lodged. Please remember that this is a very clean transaction and risk free, Reply me with the following
details if you interested.

1 Your direct confidential telephone, mobile phone and direct confidential fax numbers
2 Your full names
3 Your Age
4 House address/company address if any.
5 Occupation/profession.
6 Marital status

NOTE: You will be required to
(1) Use 80% of the funds for Charitable work
(2) 20% for your effort and help in Receiving the funds

Email me at: attorneythor@gmail.com

Regards,
Eric Thor ESQ.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam