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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:
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447024046492 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: attorneyhogarth@jmail.co.za
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:08:00 -0800 (PST)
Subject: hi


From: Allen Hogarth QC (For Trustees)
Head of Chambers(Hogarth Chambers)
London - United Kingdom.=20
+447024046492
=A0
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 Notifica=
tion of Bequest.=20
=A0

Dear Huib Michaelis=20
=A0
On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Mr. Edwin=20
Gabriel, I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was=20
returned=20
undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email=20
address=20
on the WILL. I wish to notify you that late Mr. Edwin Gabriel made you=20
a=20
beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Five Million One Hundred=20
Thousand Dollars (USD$5,100.000.00 ) to you in the codicil and last=20
testament to his will.=20
This may sound strange and unbelievable to you since none of his family mem=
br seems to know you, but it is real and=20
true.=20
Being a widely travelled man, he must have been in contact with you in=20
the=20
past or simply you were nominated to him by one of his numerous friends=20
abroad who wished you good. Mr. Edwin Gabriel until his death was a=20
member=20
of the Helicopter Society and the Institute of Electronic & Electrical=20
Engineers. He was a very dedicated Christian who loved to give out. His=20
great philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his life time.=20
Late Mr.=20
Edwin Gabriel died on the 16th day of February 2004 at the age of 90=20
years,=20
and his WILL is now ready for execution. According to him this money is=20
to=20
support your Christian activities and to help the poor and the needy.=20
Please if I reach you as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as=20
soon as=20
possible to enable me conclude my job. I hope to hear from you in no=20
distant=20
time.
Yours in His service,=20
Christopher Morcom QC
London, UK=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam