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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • barrjagu@yahoo.fr

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Jose=20Agu?= <joseagu144@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: joseagu3@live.com
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 19:03:36 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Dear Friend


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:joseagu144@yahoo.com.co



- ATTN:Sir/Madam,It is obvious that this proposal will come to you as a suprise.This is because we have not met before but I am inspired tosending you this email by the huge fund transfer opportunity that willbe of mutual benefit to the two of us.However, I am barrister JOSE AGU, Attorney to the late Engr.Steve Moore a national of Isle of Man inUK, who used to work with Shell Petroleum Development Company(SPDC) in Nigeria. On the 11th of November,1997.My client,his wife And their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu/Lagos ExpressRoad. Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the accident, Since then I have made several enquiries to several Embassies to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts, Idecided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you. I contacted you toassist in repartrating the money and property left behind by my client,Ican easily convince the bank with my legal practice that you are theonly surviving relation of my client.Otherwise the Estate he leftbehind will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $27 million U.S dollars(twenty sevenmillion U.S.America Dollars).Conseqently,The bank issued me a notice toprovide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten of fic! ial wo rk i ng days.Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over several years now.I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased,so that the proceeds of this account valued at $27million U.S dollars can be paid to youraccount and then you and me can share the money. 55% to me and 40% toyou,while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through and forward the following informations to me 1,Your Name 2,House Address3,Your Phone/Fax Number4,Your Age and Gender5,Your occupation I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Send your reply to my alternative email address (barrjagu@yahoo.fr) Yours Faithfully,Barrister JOSE AGU (Esq).

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam