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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)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "confidentiality of this transaction" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Muntasir Sharaf <sharaf_954@msn.com>
Reply-To: <mrmuntasirsharaf@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:58 +0000
Subject: Urgernt Reply Needed Immediatly



THE DESK OF MR. MUNTASIR SHARAF
AUDITS & ACCOUNTS DEPT
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO

Dear Friend,

Greeting's to you and your entire family!!!

I am Mr. Muntasir Sharaf, a banker with the above mentioned bank in Ouagadougou Burkina Faso in West Africa, holding the post of the Audit & Accounts dept. On December, 25, 2003, one Mr.. Lech Phillip,a Lebanese National, An Astute Business man of international repute, a contract with ecowas country, whose endeavours spans various areas of Business interest, (Real estate, contract and Farming .etc) made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit, valued at $15.8M (Fifteen Million And Eight hundred Thousand United State Dollars) for twelve calendar months in my Bank Branch.

Upon Maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his company that Mr. Lech Phillip.was aboard the AF4590 plane, which crashed December, 25 2003. After further investigation, it was discovered that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin proved fruitless. On further investigation, it was discovered that Late Mr. Lech Phillip, did not declare any next of kin or relatives in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paper work here in our Bank. The total sum, $15.8M is still in my bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. All efforts to trace and locate his next of kin proved abortive.

In accordance with the country's banking laws and constitution guiding this banking institution stated that after the expiration of 5 years, if no body or person comes for the claim as the next of kin , such money will be revert to the Burkina Faso government treasury if nobody applies as the next of Kin to claim of the fund. Consequently, It is upon this respect, I seek to present you as a foreign partner to stand in as the next of kin to the late Mr. Lech Phillip, since no one will come up for the claim.

Upon acceptance of this proposal, I shall send to you by mail the ADB Bank "Next of Kin Payment Application Text Form" as well as detailed information on how this business would be carried out. And you will be in position of 40%afterer the deal is done, I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law, as I will use my position in the Bank's here to perfect this business transaction & secure Approvals and guarantee the successful execution of this transaction.

Please be informed that your utmost confidentiality is required. If this interests you, I want to remind you of the confidentiality of this Transaction at hand whatever your decision is. I await your urgent response,and fill those question below to enable us proceed this business onward.

Your Full Name..........................................
Your Sex................................................
Your Age..............................................
Your Country.......................................
Your Pass Or Photo...........................
Your Occupation...............................
Your Personal Mobile Number.............

As soon as i receive your positive respond i will send you the text of application which you will use to apply in my bank as next of kin.

Thanks.
Yours Faithfully
Mr. Muntasir Sharaf

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam