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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:
  • "million 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)
  • "dear beneficiary," (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Michael Gibbs, Fund Transfer Controller"<helpus001@gmail.com>
Reply-To: <transferdepartment@intercontinentalbanknigr.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 18:58:41 +0100
Subject: Did You Give Your Power of Attorney.

Dear Beneficiary,

First, I wish to introduce myself as a sympathizer of your situation.

In view of my position as introduced and explained above, I have this privileged information for you out of sympathy to save your inheritance and also to save you and your family from eternal poverty.

REASONS FOR CONTACTING YOU

Precisely, on Monday the 29th of June, 2009 a man by the name MR. EUGENE SCHNEIDER walked into my office and requested that we transfer to his account your inheritance fund of $28.5 Million Dollars which the Federal Government of Nigeria is due to pay to you as Contract/Inheritance fund.

He presented some documents among which was a Power of Attorney which supported his claims that you contracted him to front you as a Next of Kin.

The primary reason for contacting you is because on the Power of Attorney he presented before me it bears his own signature and not your and this has made me curious and so i decided to contact you being the Director of the organization before giving instructions that the transfer of funds to his bank account be proceeded with.

DETAILS OF HIS BANK ACCOUNT

Account Name: Eugene .C. Schneider
Bank Name: Regions Bank
Bank Branch: Anaheim, California
Account Type: Checking
Account Number: 11001319323
ABA Routing Number: 263191387

As soon as I receive the confirmation that you duly authorized him to receive the fund on your behalf, then I will immediately proceed with the transfer of the funds to his account.

Awaiting your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. Michael Gibbs
Fund Transfer Controller

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam