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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:
  • ",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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "ali hadaf" <ali2hadaf@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:34:13 +0400
Subject: Greetings from Dubai,


Greetings from Dubai,

This letter must come to you as a big surprise, but I believe it iS only a
day that people meet and become great friends and business partners. I am
Mr. Ali Hadaf, currently Head of Coporate affairs with a reputable bank here
in U. A. E. I write you this proposal in good faith, believing that I can
trust you with the information I am about to reveal to you. I have an urgent
and very confidential business proposition for you. On November 6, 2000, an
Iraqi Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the CHEVRON PETROLEUM
CORPORATION, MR. Morris Thompson made a (Fixed deposit) for 36 calendar
months, valued at US$17,500, 000.00 (Seventeen Million Five hundred Thousand
Dollars only) in my bank and I happen to be his account officer before I was
moved to my present position recently.

Upon maturity in 2003, as his account officer and as well the bank manger,
it is my duty to notify him on the maturity date so I sent a routine
notification to his forwarding address but the letter was returned
undelivered. After sometime, I tried sending back the letter, but it was
again returned and finally I discovered from his contract employers, Chevron
Petroleum Corporation that Mr.Morris Thompson died as a result of torture in
the hand of Saddam Hussein (former Iraqi President) during one of his trips
to his country Iraq, as he was accused of leaking information to the
Americans. On further investigation, I discovered that Mr. Morris Thompson
family wife and two sons died during the Gulf War in Iraq and was the reason
why he did not declare any next of kin or relation in all his official
documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank and did not leave
any WILL. This sum of US$17,500,000.00 have been floating and placed under
dormant/unserviceable account by my bank management since no one have heard
from the owner since 2003. I wish to let you know that all the investigation
I have made so far, my bank management is not aware of it, I am the only one
that have the information. With the recent change of government in my
country and with their efforts to support the United Nations in checkmating
terrorism aid in the U. A. E. By end of this year, the government will pass
a new financial control law which will give the government authority to
interrogate account owners of above $5,000, 000.00 to explain the source of
the funds, making sure it is not for terrorism support.

If I do not move this money out of the country immediately, by end of the
year the government will definitely confiscate the money, because my bank
cannot provide the account owner to explain the source of the money. I
cannot directly transfer out this money without the help of a foreignerand
that is why I am contacting you for an assistance.

As the Account Officer to late Morris Thompson , coupled with my present
position and status in the bank as Head of Retail Banking Groug , I have the
power to influence the release of the funds to any foreigner that comes up
as the next of kin to the account, with the correct information concerning
the account, which I shall give you. All documents to enable you claim this
fund will be carefully worked out and there is practically no risk involved,
the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will
protect you from any breach of law, beside U. A. E is porous and anything
goes.

If you accept to work with me, I want you to state how you wish us to share
the funds in percentage, so that both parties will be satisfied. If you are
interested, contact me as soon as you receive this message so we can go over
the details. Thanking you in advance and may Allah bless you. Please,treat
with utmost confidentiality. I shall send you copy of the deposit
certificate issued to you when the deposit was made for your perusal.


I wait your urgent response.

Regards,

Mr. Ali Hadaf.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam