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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "share the funds upon agreed terms" (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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: Ernest Carter <attorney.carter202@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: <ernest_carter2006@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 28 May 2007 18:32:28 +0000
Subject: Attention;Urgent Information


Dear Friend,

Compliments of the day to you.I know this email will come to you in an
odd manner as you have not received any prior communication from me
before now.

But be that as it may, my name is Mr.ErnestCarter(esq) and I was
privileged to be the personal attorney of my deceased client who lost
his life along with his wife and family, in a fatal accident. Before his
death, I assisted him in the deposit of some funds with a Security Company
for safekeeping.

The funds have remained unclaimed since his death, and such unclaimed
funds are appropriated and returned to the treasury as a matter of policy.
Considering the lack of success in my bid to locate any of his
relatives for years now, I hereby solicit your consent to enable me present
you as the Next of Kin to my deceased client.

I am contacting you for a strong reason the security company does not
deserve to inherit the funds, i also discovered that both of you have a
similar last name. This reason led to my resolve to claim the funds,
which was why I contacted you. With your permission, I will proceed to
establish you as the next of kin/Beneficiary to my late client.

As soon as this is done, you will then give instructions to the
Security Company, to transfer the deposited funds into another account
you will provide, after which we shall then share the funds upon agreed terms.
When I receive your response, I will provide you with further details.
I await your reply,

Ernest .D. Carter (esq)
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam