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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "100% hitch free" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • barr-michealwallace@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: BARRISTER MICHEAL WALLACE <slds-edesk@live.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 02:21:03 -0400
Subject: KINDEST RESPONSE

 

THIS IS FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

I am Barrister Micheal Wallace, the personal representative to my late client who has $10 Million USD with his holding Bank before his untimely death in 2005, I am contacting you to present your names to the Bank as the heir/beneficiary so that they can transfer the entire funds to you and I shall join you up for sharing and final disbursement as we shall plan. 50% for me, 35% for you and 10% for tax and 5% for any expenses we might incure alongside with this transaction.

I want you to know that this is 100% hitch free and no breach of the law is affected.

All legal papers will be processed on your acceptance of this deal. I request that you kindly forward to us your letter of acceptance; your current telephone and fax numbers and a forwarding address to enable me file necessary documents at our high court probate division for the release of this sum of money.

Please get back to me so we can get this deal started and concluded immediately.
Email: barr-michealwallace@hotmail.com

Yours faithfully,
Micheal Wallace
Tel: +234-8034779736 (Direct Line)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam