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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:

• 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:
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +31644961187 (Netherlands, 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.
  • jones_harry82@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "jones" <jones_harry12@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: jones_harry82@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 13:03:58 +0200
Subject: Good Day

ATTN:

I got your details after an extensive online search for a reliable
foreign business partner.

It involves a time deposit of $48.3million (Forty Eight Million And
Three hundred thousand United States Dollars only) in an account in the
Netherlands.

The circumstances surrounding the death of the depositor with no known
nominated successor has made it difficult to locate anyone who is
directly related to the deceased.

With very strong feeling that no one will ever come forward to claim
the funds and the investigation coming to a close after several months,
the need for assistance becomes crucial, as a next of kin to the
depositor is earnestly sought for and your name fits exactly the family name
of the depositor and that is why i have contacted you today.
I have a legal and totally risk free means through which the funds can
be released to you or your nominated bank account within a very short
time after due documentation and authentication process.

The strategy is to use my position as his Attorney to present you as a
next of Kin and beneficiary of the time deposit.

I expect your response and if in the affirmative, contact me on my
Phone: +31-644-961-187 or email meat:jones_harry82@yahoo.co.uk
I shall advice you on what we need to do on receipt of a positive
response from you.

Best regards,

Harry Jones
Phone: +31-644-961-187

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam