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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Michael Higgins <higgin1544@msn.com>
Reply-To: <atmt02@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 12:21:03 +0000
Subject: From Mr. Michael O Higgins



>From Mr. Michael O HigginsAddress: 65 Petty France,St James Park, London SW1H 9EU. Occupations: External Auditor

Good Day,
Please accept my sincere apologizes if my email does not meet your business or personal ethics. I will first introduce myself as Mr. Michael O Higgins, anAuditor with Bank of Scotland, here in London,England.

During our last Audit, I discovered that one of our accounts, with holding balance of £15,000,000 (Fifteen Million Pounds Sterling) has been dormant andlast operated three years ago. From my investigations and confirmation, the owner of the said account, a foreigner by name John Shumejda died on the 4th of January 2002 in a plane crash in Birmingham; you can view this CNN website for details on the crash.

http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/01/04/england.plane/

Since then, nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money, as he has no family member that has any knowledge as to the existence of either the account or the funds; and also Information from the National Immigration also states that he was single on entry into the UK.

I have confidently discussed this issue with some of the bank officials and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. We thereforepropose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin of these funds from the deceased and funds released to you after necessary processes have been followed because this fund can be claim by a foreigner due to the deceased owner of the account is also, foreigner.

I want to assure you that, this transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug, moneylaundry, terrorism or any other illegal act.

At the successful conclusion of this business, you will be given 35% of the total amount as your share, 60% for me while the remaining 5% will be forexpenses.

On your interest, let me hear from you.
Warm Regards,
Mr. Michael O Higgins.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam