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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:
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "huge amount 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)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "% commission" (Beware of any scheme that involves depositing checks or money orders or receiving wire transfers in your bank account and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere, for a percentage of 5-15% of the total. Such offers are *always* fraudulent and you will be liable for the entire amount when the checks, money orders or wire transfers turn out to be fraudulent. Any money already forwarded comes out of *your* pocket then. )
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +447024082075 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Teller Stephen" <stephtell@student.com>
Reply-To: stephtell03@yahoo.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:16:24 -0700
Subject: URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL(STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL)


URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL(STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL)

*

FROM: BARRISTER STEPHEN TELLER, UK

#23 Les Caches,St.Martins, Guernsey,Channel Islands,

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 7024082075
*

Firstly, in order not to cause any embarrassment, I am Barrister Stephen
Teller, a Solicitor at law and the personal attorney to late Mr. Leo Das, a
National of your country who used to be a private contractor with the Shell
Petroleum Development Company in the UK, herein after shall be referred to
as my client. On the 21st of April,

2002, he and his wife with their three children were involved in an auto
crash; all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then, I have made several enquiries with his country embassies to
locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved
unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to
contact you with this business partnership proposal. I am contacting you to
assist in repatriating a huge amount of money left behind by my client
before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the holding finance
firm where this huge deposit is lodged.

The deceased had a deposit valued presently at GBPS£5,000,000.00(Five
Million Great Britain Pounds Sterling) with a Finance House and they have
just issued me a notice to provide Mr Das' Next of Kin or beneficiary
otherwise they will have the deposit frozen within the next thirty official
working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years
now, I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin and the
beneficiary to the deceased so that the proceeds of this deposit valued at
GBPS£5 Million can be transferred to your favour. The proceed of this
business will be shared in this ratio of, 60% commission to me and 40%
commission to you.

I shall be required to process all necessary legal documents that can be
used to back up our claims and this I shall do without much problems.
However, this transaction requires your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality
and Trust to enable us see this business through.

I guarantee you that this transaction will be executed under a legal
procedure that will protect both you and me from any breach of the law.

If you are willing to execute this transaction with me then I require that
you forward to me the following:
*

1. Your full name and address

2. Your complete Bank Account information (into which you wish the £5
Million to be remitted).

3. Your telephone number and fax numbers

4. Copy of your International Passport or Driver's License
*

With this information, I shall be able to process the necessary relevant
papers that will back up our claims from the relevant authorities in your
favour.

Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.

Best regards,

Barrister Stephen Teller

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam