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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:
  • "million us 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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Adams George <adams_534@msn.com>
Reply-To: <adamsges200@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:36:01 +0000
Subject: Urgent..........





UBS AG
Postfach 8098 Zürich
Switzerland
Swiss Clearing Number: 230
Postal Account: 80-2-2
SWIFT: UBSW CH ZH 80A
Web site: www.ubs.com

Dear Sir,

I am an investment consultant working with Bank UBS AG Zurich at their offshore department Zurich Switzerland. I will be happy to work this deal out with you if you have a corporate or personal Bank Account and if you are capable to keep TOP SECRET. I need strong Assurance that you will never let me down, if I transfer this money to your account.

During one of our periodic auditing I discovered a dormant accounts with holding balance of US$ 232,000.000.00 {Two hundred and Thirty Two million US Dollars only}.

If you are not familiar with Swiss Dormant Accounts and profile, please take a moment of your very busy schedules to read about Swiss dormant accounts: website; http://www.crt-ii.org/2001_list/publication_list1_A.phtm

If you know that you are capable to handle large or small amount on trust and can keep secret and ready to take 40% of any amount I transfer to your account from the dormant account and I will take 60%, send the following information by return mail:

Beneficiary Bank name.........................?
Bank address....................................?
Account no.......................................?
Swift code.......................................?
Account name...................................?
Beneficiary address............................?
Your phone no...................................?
Your Occupation.................................?
Age....................................?
Also needed, a Scan copy of your In’t Passport/ID Card............?

Tell me more about yourself, while I look forward to receive the above information.

I want to re-assure you that this business is risk-free and you can send an empty account to receive the funds, provided that the account is capable to receive incoming funds.

Thank you for your time and attention, I looked forward to receive your prompt reply to my E-mail address: adamsges200@msn.com)

Warmest regards,

Mr.Adams George

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam