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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:

• 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:
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • ",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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • leekianong@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: leekianong@gmail.com
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:39:57 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: ATTENTION:


LEE KIAN ONG AND LAW FIRM
SOLICITOR AND ADVOCATES
JALAN RAJA CHULAN 50200
KUALA-LUMPUR
MALAYSIA.
Email:leekianong@gmail.com

Dear

My name is Lee Kian Ong a legal practitioner with L.Kian & Law Firm in
Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.

I found your contact/profile some where over the internet and it gave me
the greatest joy,that you are the one I have been looking for.Whom I
strongly believe could execute this transaction with me.And being more
positive that with your capability,that this transaction of transferring
US$17,500,000.00 will be successfully accomplished.

My purpose of contacting you is for you to help secure the funds left
behind by my late client,to avoid it being confiscated or declared
unserviceable by the Finance House.Where this fund valued
(US$17,500,000.00)seventeen Million five hundred thousand United State
Dollars deposited by my client before his death in November 2004.

You might be wondering why am I communicating with you,believe it or not
it is simply because you and my late client have the same surname.Though
this is coincidental,I strongly believe,you could help me in the task
which is the distribution of my late client's funds.

And the said funds in the Finance House is considered
"UNSERVICEABLE"after my client passed away as there were no indication
of next of kin whatsoever that the Institution could consider as a
beneficiary for the said funds.

Being my late client's legal adviser,the Institution notified my
office,that I need to produce and to contact the next of kin of my
deceased client,to either "REACTIVATE" the account or to "MAKE
CLAIMS" of the said funds which is carrying a monthly surcharge.

Now,my intention is purely to seek your consent to kindly present you as
the legal next of kin/beneficiary to my late client's funds.This would
mean that the proceeds of the said funds would be released to you.After
the release of the funds to you,we shall then share it mutual,which will
be 70% to me and 30% to you.

My office would provide documents to back up your claim.The most
important thing I need is your honest/sincere cooperation in this
task.And I assure you that this transaction will be legally executed
according to the dictates of the law,which will protect you from any
infraction of the law.

However,if this business proposition offends your moral ethics,do accept
my sincere apology.If on the contrary you wish to achieve this goal with
me,kindly get back to me with your interest immediately for further
details.

Best regards,

Mr.Lee Kian(Esq.)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam