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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:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "30% for you " (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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: roe james <r.r.james5@msn.com>
Reply-To: <pin11@live.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 02:59:34 +0000
Subject: (HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL!!!)








RE: TRANSFER OF £156,000,000. 00

I am quite Sure that this mail Will come to you as a surprise Since I have not been having previous correspondences with you.First, let me start by introducing myself as (Mr:Roe L James) A staff in the Private Clients Section of a well-known bank, here in London, England.

One of our accounts, with holding balance of £156,000,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Six Million Pounds Sterling) has been dormant and last operated three years ago. From my investigations and confirmation, the owner of the said account, a foreigner by name John Shumejda who died on the 4th of January 2002 in a plane crash in Birmingham; you can view this CNN website:http:edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/01/04/england.plane/ The account has no beneficiary and no other person knows about this account.I am in close contact with the bank manager here who is my partner and is willing to approve the transfer to any reliable and trustworthy foreigner with foreign bank account because the former owner of the a/c is a foreigner.

The account has no writen or oral WILL attached to it. I will provide all the necessary documents needed in order to claim this money if you agree to receive this fund in your account pending my arrival in your country for sharing and on receipt of your Bank Account Details where the fund will be transferred.At the end, 60% will be for me, 30% for you and 5% will be set aside for expenses incurred on both sides during the transfer.Another 5% will go to the charity.

There is no risk involved as every arrangement has been perfected.

Your cooperation is highly needed.

Yours Faithfully,
Mr:Roe L.James.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam