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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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 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.
  • +2348020663676 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • barristerabrahammartins@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: teresa williams <teresawilliams3231@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 07:08:44 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: THANKS FOR YOUR MAIL


DEAR VICTIM-FULLNAME,

THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO MY MAIL,I MUST TELL YOU THAT DUE TO THE PRESURE AM FACING FROM MY LATE HUSBAND RELATIVES SIMPLY BECAUSE I DID NOT BEAR A MALE CHILD FOR THERE LATE BROTHER,THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR YOU TO HELP ME CLAIM THIS FUND AND DEPOSIT IT IN YOUR SAFE BANK ACCOUNT PENDING WHEN I AND MY DAUGHTERS WILL COME OVER FOR OUR SHARE AND INVESTMENT IN YOUR COUNTRY.
KINDLY NOTE THAT MY ATTORNEY HAS PROMISED TO HELP ME PREPARE A CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP TO YOUR NAME.BELOW IS THE CONTACT INFORMATION OF MY ATTORNEY.
BARRISTER ABRAHAM MARTINS
TEL: 234-80-20663676
EMAIL: barristerabrahammartins@hotmail.com
PLEASE CONTACT HIM AND SEND YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS,TELEPHONE AND FAX NUMBER SO AS TO ENABLE HIM CONTACT YOU AND BRIEF YOU ON HOW YOU WILL ASSIST ME IN CLAIMING THE FUND ON MY BEHALF.
PLEASE NOTE THAT I WILL SEND MY CURRENT PICS TO HIM FOR HIM TO SEND TO YOU AND FOR VERBAL CONVERSATION BETWEEN US,I MUST TELL YOU THAT IT WILL NOT BE OF FAVOUR TO ME BECAUSE MY LATE HUSBAND RELATIVES ARE ALWAYS ARROUND ME TRYING TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY OF THERE LATE BROTHER WEALTH WHICH I AM HIDING FROM THEM.JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I DON'T WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT THIS FUND ANY DISCUSSION SHOULD BE STRICTLY WITH MY ATTORNEY AND YOU CAN BE GIVING ME UPDATE ON THE TRANSACTION FROM TIME TO TIME ON EMAIL OKAY.ALSO NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS FUND SHOULD BE KEPT PERSONAL AND VERY CONFIDENTIAL AS MY LATE HUSBAND FAMILIES ARE VERY POPULAR AND INFLUENCIAL.
PLEASE I EXPECT TO HEAR FROM YOU AS SOON AS YOU REACH MY ATTORNEY.
THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
TERESA



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam