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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: ahmed rupert <ahmed_rupert18@msn.com>
Reply-To: <ahmed_rupert209@sify.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:32:57 +0000
Subject: BUSINESS OFFER



Dear friend,

FROM THE DESK OF: AHMED RUPERT

I can't imagine how you will feel receiving a sudden business letter from a country in far away Burkina Faso west africa and probably from some one you have not closely related with. But all the same, i believe we do not need to be of blood relatives before we can establish cordial/business relationship. Having said this, i think it is very important at this juncture to introduce myself to you.

I am.Mr Ahmed.Rupert the director in charge of auditing and accounting section of Bank of Africa(B.O.A.) Ouagadougou Burkina-Faso west africa.
It is my pleasure to solicit your assistance in this business proposal. I am contacting you because, i do not want to transact the business with anybody who is known to any staff of this bank or anybody around here to avoid any possible blackmail or leakage at the end of the transaction.The proposal: During our investigation and auditing in this bank, my department came across a very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died,in a plane crash and the fund has been dormant in his account with this bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either from his family or relation before our discovery to this development.the said amount was u.s $12.000.000m (Twelve Million United States Dollars) as it may interest you to know,

meanwhile all the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the bonafide next of kin to the deceased, get the required approval and transfer this money to a foreign account has been put in place and directives and needed information will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to assist us and also benefit your self to this great business opportunity. In fact i could have done this deal alone but because of my position in this country as a civil servant(a banker),we are not allowed to opperate a foreign account and would eventually raise an eye brow on my side during the time of transfer because i work in this bank.

This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who will forward claims as the next of kin with affidavit of trust of oath to the bank and also present a foreign account where he will need the money to be re-transferred into on his request as it may be after due verification and clarification by the correspondent branch of the bank where the whole money will be remitted from to your own designation bank account.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 40% of the total sum as gratification, while 5% will be set aside to take care of expenses that may arise during the time of transfer and also telephone bills, while 55% will be for me and my partner. Please, you have been adviced to keep "top secret" as i am still in service and intend to retire from service after we conclude this deal with you.

I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you confirm the money in your account and ask me to come down to your country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated and further investment, either in your country or any country you advice us to invest in.

All other necessary vital information will be sent to you when i hear from you.
I look forward to receive your immediate response.
Mr Ahmed. Rupert.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam