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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "million united states dollars" (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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • mr_paulwilson1@yahoo.com.br (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MR PAUL WILSON <mr.paulwilson001_14@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mr_paulwilson1@yahoo.com.br>
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:24:39 +0000
Subject: AKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT




ATTENTION:



FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC

MARINA-LAGOS.

INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER.

LEICESTER CURRENCY

DEPARTMENT.



I AM MR PAUL WILSON A BANK MANAGER OF FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC LAGOS BRANCH. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TO CARRY OUT THIS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN MY DEPARTMENT WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF $25,000,000.00 (TWENTY FIVE MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY)IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS, AN ENG,WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY OF A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN IN AN AUTO CRASH.



SINCE WE HEARD OF HIS DEATH,WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT-OF-KIN TO COME OVER AND PUT CLAIMS FOR THIS MONEY FOR THE FAMILY,BECAUSE 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.



UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER THEIR FAMILY MEMBER NOR DISTANT RELATIVE HAS EVER APPEARED TO CLAIM THE SAID FUND. UPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT YOU HAVE A SIMILAR LAST NAME,I HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE BUSINESS WITH YOU AND RELEASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE FUND SINCE NO ONE CAME FOR IT OR DISCOVERED THE MAINTAINED ACCOUNT WITH OUR BANK,OTHERWISE THE FUND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE BANKS TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUND.I HAVE AGREED THAT OUR RATIO OF SHARING WILL BE AS STATED THUS; 40 % FOR YOU AS FOREIGN PARTNER,50 % FOR ME AND 10 % FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF ALL LOCAL AND FOREIGN EXPENCES INCURRED BY YOU AND ME DURING THE COURSE OFTHIS BUSINESS.UPON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS TRANSFER, I WILL COME TO YOUR COUNTRY AND MIND MY SHARE. IT IS FROM THE 50 % I INTEND TO IMPORTAGRICULTURAL MACHINERIES INTO MY COUNTRY AS A WAY OF RECYCLING THE FUND.



I REQUIRE YOU TO IMMEDIATELY INDICATE YOUR INTEREST BY A RETURN E-MAIL AND ENCLOSE YOUR PRIVATE CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER, FAX NUMBER FULL NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOUR DESIGNATED BANK COORDINATES TO ENABLE ME FILE LETTER OF /'/'/CLAIM TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS FOR NECESSARY APPROVALS BEFORE THE TRANSFER CAN BE MADE.



NOTE ; THIS TRANSACTION MUST BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE OF ITS NATURE. I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVE YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE. PLEASE YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IS HIGLY REQUIRED AS THIS TRANSACTION NEEDS AN UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY. email address

(mr_paulwilson1@yahoo.com.br)



REGARDS,



PAUL WILSON

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam