419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

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:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
- "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- +66950586096 (Thailand, probably a mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Senior Attorney Decha Sunittramat Senior Attorney Decha Sunittramat
<decha.sunittramat@outlook.com>
Reply-To: <Info.s.a.ds@gmx.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 13:49:06 +0700
Subject: Regards to you Appointed,

Senior Attorney,Decha Sunittramat,at-law.
Address,The Mom Luang Pin Malakul
Second,Centenary Building,corner
of Sukhumvit Road Soi 104,
Thailand Bangkok,
Phone:+66-9505-86096,
Fax: 0-8896-16441,

Regards to you Appointed, My name is Advocate Decha Sunittramat (Esq.).A personal
Senior Attorney to my late client Mr.Ekawit Sunittramat who worked with
Central bank gold reserves here in Thailand, Mr.Ekawit Sunittramat
a well known Philanthropist, before he died, he made a WILL in my law
firm stating that $5.2M Five Million Two Hundred Thousand U.S.
Dollars, only should be donated to any Philanthropist of our choice
outside Thailand (Overseas).

It is my utmost desire to execute the WILL of my late client. You are
required to contact me immediately to start the process of
transferring this money to any of your designated official bank
account. I urge you to contact me immediately for further details
bearing in mind that the Bank has given us a date limit.

Please contact me urgently via my direct telephone number as
follows:+66-9505-86096

YOU ARE APPOINTED.

Regards,
Senior Attorney Decha Sunittramat at-law.
Phone:+66-9505-86096,
Fax: 0-8896-16441,

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam