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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was sent to thousands of people)
  • "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.
  • thomasireal@yahoo.co.in (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
  • ambtic@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?iso-8859-1?q?thomas=20isreal?= <thomasireal@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 14:51:09 +0530 (IST)
Subject: strictly private


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: thomasireal@yahoo.co.in

ESCRAVOS GAS PROJECT PHASE 3B

GAS GATHERING AND COMPRESSION

PLATFORM

CHEVRON NIGERIA LIMITED

(Operator of the NNPC/CNLJoint Venture)

Dear

I am Barrister Thomas Isreal, I am the Personal attorney to Mr.Fredrick ,a foreigner, who used to work with ESCRAVOS GAS PROJECT PHASE 3B IN NIGERIA.On the 2nd of Dec.2002, my client,his wife and their two children where involved in a Boat wreckage along Escravos River,Bight of Benin,Nigeria. All occupants of the Boat unfortunately lost there lives.Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives from his contact address, this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet, to locate any member of his family and fortunately, I came across your name which was the same name as my client, hence I contacted you. I contact you to come forward and inherit the estate left behind by my client before they get confisicated or declared unserviceable by the Finance House where this huge deposits were lodged.Particularly, the Finance House where the deceased had an account valued at about US$13 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated, since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the the relatives for over 1 year now I seek your conscent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you a foreigner and foreign account is what I need to process and transfer the money.

So that the proceeds of this account valued at US$13 million can be paid to you and then you and me can split the money in the ratio of 50/50%.The split will be done after the receipt of the deposit by you of what is left. I have to generate the legal documents that will legalise your acceptance as the next of kin.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

I await your urgent response

Best regards,

Thomas Isreal

- ambtic@hotmail.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam