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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "cotonou" (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.
  • luciono_gamel@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "luciono gamel" <luciono_gamel@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 02:16:58 +0100
Subject: INVITATION TO ACT AS NEXT OF KIN.

RE:Attention,
Your name and e-mail address came up in a random draw conducted by our law
firm, ( Gamel & Co Chambers,) in Lagos,Nigeria. I am Barrister Luciono
Gamel, the Legal Adviser and counsel to a deceased expatriate contractor
(Mr. Philip wang) who used to work with Zenith Oil and Gas Company here in
Nigeria thereafter shall be referred as my late client.On the December 26th
2003, my client and his entire family died in a plane crash in cotonou,
Benin Republic. You will read more stories about the crash on visiting
thiswebsite: www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/ he was a well
known philanthropist before he died, he made a Will stating that
$28.5Million should be donated to any Philanthropist of our choice
overseas.We have made a random draw where your name and e-mail address was
picked as the beneficiary to this Will.
I am particularly interested in securing this money from the bank, because
they have issued a notice instructing us to produce the beneficiary of this
Will within two weeks or else the money will be credited to the Government
treasury as per law here.
It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of our late client (Mr. Philip
wang) in your favour and therefore, you are required to contact me
immediately to start the process of sending this money to any or your
designated official account.
However, I want you to forward to me your
FULL NAMES :
ADDRESS :
OCCUPATION :
PHONE NUMBER:
AGE :
NATIONALITY :
MARRIAGE STATUS:

Upon the receipt of the aboved information I will obtain from the Federal
High Court a Sworn Affidavit on your behalf and i will also forward your
full name and address to the bank as the bank has already make request for
this to enable them issue the beneficiary certificate in your favour.
Please act fast and contact me via my private email address,
(luciono_gamel@yahoo.co.uk).

Regards,
Barrister Luciono Gamel.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam