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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: franklinadam@hotmail.fr
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:53:26 +0100
Subject: Personal And Confidential


Personal And Confidential


From: Mr Franklin Adam
Bills & Exchange Manager
Bank OF Africa(BOA)
TEL+226 70 33 56 53
BURKINA-FASO WEST AFRICA.

I am contacting you in regards to a business transfer of a huge sum of money
from a deceased account. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude
will make anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all
will be well at the end of the day. We decided to contact you due to the
urgency of this transaction.

PROPOSITION;

We discovered an abandoned sum of $15m US dollars (Fifteen Millon United
States dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers
who died along with his entire family. Since his death, none of his
next-of-kin or relations has come forward to lay claims to this money as the
heir. We cannot release the fund from his account unless someone applies for
claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our banking
guidelines. Upon this discovery, we now seek your permission to have you
stand as a next of kin to the deceased as all documentations will be
carefully worked out by us for the funds $15m US dollars (Fifteen Millon
United States dollars)to be released in your favour as the beneficiary's
next of kin. It may interest you to note that we have secured from the
probate an order of madamus to locate any of deceased beneficiaries. Please
acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual business
endeavour by
furnishing me with the following:

1. Your Full Names and Address.
2. Direct Telephone and Fax numbers.

These requirements will enable us file a letter of claim to the appropriate
departments for necessary approvals in your favour before the transfer can
be made. We shall be compensating you with 30% on final conclusion of this
project, while the rest shall be for us. Your share stays with you while the
rest shall be for us for investment purposes in your country. If this
proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the trust we
have bestowed in you, I await your urgent email.
Regards,
Mr Franklin Adam

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam