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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• What can you do when you receive 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states 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)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Ben Williams" <ritawhite_nlp3@msn.com>
Reply-To: ben_williams889@yahoo.com
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 12:28:06 +0000
Subject: PLEASE READ AND GET BACK TO ME.

Dear Friend,

I am Barrister Ben Williams, OF BEN WILLIAMS CHAMBERS & CO. This mail is
written and intended to solicit your assistance to be presented as NEXT OF
KIN to my Late Client who made a fixed Deposit of Fund valued at USD27M
(Twenty Seven Million United States Dollars Only) with a Bank and
unfortunately lost his life aboard Egypt Air Flight 990, which crashed in to
the Atlantic Ocean on November 2nd,1999
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm) and left no clear beneficiary
as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the Deposit still with
me.

The Governing Body of the Bank has contacted me on this matter and I am yet
to provide the Next of Kin to lay claims to the Fund. Under a clear and
legitimate agreement with you, I shall seek your consent to be presented as
the next of Kin so that my late Clients' Fund will not be confiscated by the
BANK.

For the sake of transparency on this matter, you are free to make
immediate contact with me through my email for further information related
to this matter. Thank you very much for your anticipated acceptance while we
expect your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,
Barrister Ben Williams.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam