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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • augello.massimiliano31@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Massimiliano Augello." <augello.massimiliano31@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: augello58@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 05:46:35 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From Augello,


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: augello.massimiliano31@yahoo.com



- My dear friend, this is a personal email directed to you and I request that you treat as such. My Name is Barrister Massimiliano Augello. Can I trust you to invest over US$6.45M on my behalf because of your last name, which matched with my late client? Please, let me know for more details. It is not a joke but for real. I want you to know that 20% of the funds would be parted to you. 40% would be for me. 5% would be for any unforeseen expenses in the course of the transaction. And the remaining 35% would be used for joint investment into any profitable venture in your country. My Regards, Mr. Massimiliano Augello.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam