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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
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • morriswilliams231@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Morris Williams <morriswilliams424@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: morriswilliams231@myway.com
Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2006 04:21:29 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE...


DEAR FRIEND,
REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE...

IT IS MY HUMBLE PLEASURE TO WRITE YOU THIS LETTER IRRESPECTIVE OF THE FACT THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.I GOT YOUR CONTACT DURING MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE AND TRUSTWORTHY PERSON THAT CAN HANDLE SUCH A CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION OF THIS NATURE.
MY NAME IS BARRISTER MORRIS WILLIAMS,AN ATTORNEY TO ENGR ALVEREZ GLEEN A NATIONAL OF YOUR COUNTRY,WHO USED TO WORK WITH AN OIL COMPANY IN LAGOS.HEREINAFTER,SHALL BE REFERRED TO AS MY CLIENT,WHO DIED WITHOUT LEAVING ANY NEXT OF KIN TO THE FUNDS DEPOSITED WITH A BANK HERE.SINCE THEN I HAVE MADE SEVERAL MEDIA PUBLICATIONS AND ENQUIRIES TO LOCATE ANY OF MY CLIENTS EXTENDED RELATIVES BUT ALL TO NO AVAIL.
NOW THE BANK,WHERE THE DECEASED HAD AN ACCOUNT VALUED AT ABOUT $10.2MILLION DOLLARS,HAS ISSUED MY FIRM A NOTICE TO PROVIDE THE NEXT OF KIN OR HAVE THE ACCOUNT CONFISCATED WITHIN THE NEXT 14 OFFICIAL WORKING DAYS FOLLOWING BANKING REGULATIONS.THEREFORE,SINCE I HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING THE RELATIVES FOR OVER 2 YEARS.I NOW SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED.
ON YOUR WILLINGNESS/INTEREST TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TRANSACTION WHICH IS 100% FREE RISK AND ALL LEGAL ASPECT WILL BE DULLY OBSERVED.MORE GUIDE LINE WILL BE DISCLOSE TO YOU,WHILE 60% TO ME AND 30% TO YOU,FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO RETRIEVE THIS MONEY FROM THE BANK AND TRANSFERRING IT,INTO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR AN INVESTMENT PURPOSE.AS I HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY LEGAL DOCUMENTS THAT CAN BE USED TO BACK UP ANY CLAIM WE MAY MAKE.

NOTE THAT THIS BUSINESS IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND
ALL I REQUIRE IS YOUR HONEST COOPERATION AND CONFIDENCE TO ENABLE US SEE THIS TRANSACTION TO A SUCCESS.IN ADDITION ENCLOSING YOUR PRIVATE PHONE AND FAX NUMBER,OTHERWISE I WILL BE COMPELLED TO APPROACH ANOTHER PERSON.
LOOKING FORWARD FOR YOUR ANTICIPATED CO-OPERATION.
PLEASE, I PREFER THAT YOU RESPOND TO MY PRIVATE MAILBOX:(morriswilliams231@myway.com)FOR MORE CONFIDENTIALITY.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
BARRISTER MORRIS WILLIAMS
(SAN) B.L,LLB,PH.D






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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam