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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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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:
  • "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.
• 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.
  • barrister_john_f@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Barrister John Fisher" <nancyb_14@msn.com>
Reply-To: barrister_john_f@sify.com
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 11:47:17 +0000
Subject: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND REPLY.

Hello Friend,

I am Barrister John Fisher, of BJF CHAMBERS. This mail is written and
intended to solicit your assistance to be presented as NEXT OF KIN to my
Late Client. My Deceased Client Willie Jackson Sr., 61 years, of Scotch
Plains, N.J., and Orlando, Florida USA made a fixed Deposit of Fund valued
at USD15M (Fifteen Million United States Dollars Only) with a Bank here in
London,and unfortunately lost his life aboard Egypt Air Flight 990, which
crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on October 31, 1999 (View:
ttp://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 Government.

For the sake of transparency on this matter, you are free to make immediate
contact with me through my e-mail: [barrister_john_f@sify.com] for further
information related to this matter. Thank you very much for your
anticipated acceptance while we expect your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,
John Fisher Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam