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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "dear friend" (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)
  • "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2347039512242

Fraud email example:

From: DR AUSTIN OBIGWE <australianow@msn.com>
Reply-To: <draustinobigwe@live.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 09:17:17 +0000
Subject: ARE YOU INTERESTED?



DR AUSTIN OBIWGE
UNION BANK PLC.
FOREIGN AND EXCHANGE CONTROL
ABUJA,
NIGERIA.
PHONE +234 703 951 2242
Email:draustinobigwe@live.com

Dear friend,

I am seeking your cooperation to present you to my bank as the next of kin to Mrs. Sigrit fassnacht a foreign contractor from Germany who died in a plane crash on July 25th 2000 with her husband and children who all perished in the air France Concorde New York bound flight. Please click here below for verification.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

Before her death she was a contractor to British National Petroleum cooperation (BNPC) and has a bank balance with my bank to the amount of (30 million pounds sterling GBP) which will be paid to you as her beneficiary. For your information I am the Head Accounts,foreign and exchange control department, Union bank plc Nigeria.

I am mandated to look for any known relative of Mrs. Sigrit Fassnacht, since after her death all my efforts, traces has not been successful. It came to my understanding that there is no relative. Based on that, I am writing you, to ask for your cooperation to front you as the supposed next of kin/business
partner to the late Mrs. Sigrit Fassnacht to enable you claim this money because it will amount to injustice if we do not take this decisive step to secure this deposit and invest it into a valuable business, because if nobody comes forward to claim the found it will be forfeited to the federal government based on that I have contacted
you to assist me in making this transaction a reality.

I only have to approve your application as the next of kin and the fund (30 million) will be paid to you as the beneficiary. We are to share this fund between ourselves, you will retain 50% of the total funds,40% for me and 10% will be donated to charity organization and victims of natural disasters through the red cross society. If you are really interested in this offer you should contact me through my private
email address:draustinobigwe@live.com


I will need the following information

Your name in full,
Address, fax
Phone number

To enable me commence on securing all legal document that will proof you as the
next of kin/business partner to our deceased customer Mrs. Sigrit
Fassnacht.

Please note that this transaction is 100% risk free. I will commence
immediately in securing all legal documents in your favour on your
acceptance to fully cooperate with me.

I await your urgent response so we can start this project immediately.

Yours truly,

Dr Austin Obigwe.
FOREIGN AND EXCHANGE CONTROL

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam