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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "kennedy Brown" <kennedybrown35@saonline.4t.com>
Reply-To: kennedybrown003@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:17:17 +0200
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT


From: MR. KENNEDY BROWN

ABSA BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA PLC

AUDIT DEPARTMENT

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA

TEL: 27-787919754


ATTNENTION:


I am Mr. Kennedy Brown a staff of ABAS BANK OF SOUTH AFRIC PLC, I have
urgent and very confidential business proposal for you. A Japanese Gold
consultant/contractor with the South African Solid Gold Corporation, Mr. Lou
Kawasaki made a numbered time Deposit for twenty calendar months, valued at
$14,500,000,00 (Fourteen Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S. dollars) in my
branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding
address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we
discovered that Mr. Lou Kawasaki died in automobile accident in Johannesburg
on 21 of May 2002, on further investigation, I found out that he died
without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were
fruitless.


I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Lou Kawasaki
did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,
including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of
US$14,500,000.00 is still sitting in our Bank and the interest is being
rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever
come forward to claim it. According to Laws of Republic OF SOUTH AFRICA, at
the expiration of 7(Seven) years, the money will revert to the ownership of
the
South African Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently,
my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next
of kin to Mr. Lou Kawasaki so that the fruits of this old man's labor will
not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple,
I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address so that
the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will
put you in place as the next of kin.


A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide will then
facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin.
The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60%
for me and 40% for you. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for
this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as a prominent
official of ABSA BANK PLC guarantees the successful execution of this
transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately.

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant
documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please send me your
confidential telephone, fax numbers for easy communication. Please observe
utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most
profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest
my share in your country.

I await your urgent reply.


Best Regards

Mr. Kennedy Brown

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam