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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: russell gell <russellgell010209@msn.com>
Reply-To: <russellgell03@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:19:10 +0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT RESPONSE!!!!



Dear Sir/Madam,

I apologize to you for any inconveniences caused if this mail does not meet your demands, though I do not intend to embarrass you by the contents of this very mail. I am Barrister Russell Gell. I was the personal Attorney to Late Engr N.S.Kadam,Who was a citizen of your Country but lived and did his business here with his family and he was the CEO of Shan Properties before his sudden death along with his family. This mail is written to solicit your assistance to present you as next of kin to my Late Client. Before his sudden death, he made a fixed Deposit valued at USD21,million (Twenty one Million United States Dollars Only) with a bank.

Unfortunately he lost his life aboard Egypt Air Flight 990, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on October31, 1999. He left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin. The Bank here in London has searched for the relatives for more than four years without any success and after 5 years, no claims are made by any of the deceased next of kin, the money will be sent to unclaimed accounts and embezzled by the corrupt bank or government officials. It is against this bank drop that the bank has contacted me as the late depositor's Attorney to contact and present to them my late Client's next of kin so that the deposit can be paid to him or her.

This is why I have contacted you. Anybody I present to the bank as the next of kin will be accepted .Upon your acceptance, I shall give you other details for the successful claim of the fund. I have secured from the probate registry, an order of Mandamus to locate any of the deceased beneficiaries, and more so I am assuring you that this business is 100% risk free. If this proposal is acceptable by you, please endeavor to reply me immediately, if not please disregard this information.

Thank you very much for your anticipated acceptance while I expect your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,
Russell Gell Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam