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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
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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)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "million british pounds" (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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • 233
• 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.
  • reed.ian22@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Reed Ian <reed.ian21@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <reed.ian22@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2007 10:35:41 -0600
Subject: PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL




BAR.REED IAN (ESQ.) REEDS ASSOCIATES LAW FIRM Office address: 233 OLD KENT ROAD, Belfast,United Kingdom. E-mail: reed.ian22@yahoo.co.uk ian@reedchambers.com Dear friend, Please do not worry for receiving an consolidated mail from me,i got your email after praying and my research on the internet.It is with trust and belief that I write to you this day as my confidence is reposed in you to assist me in executing this urgent business opportunity for our mutual benefits. I
am Barrister Reed Ian (Esq.) a British citizen and an Attorney based
here in London. I had a client named Mr.Morris Thompson a national of
USA.He was one of the state's most prominent Native and business
leaders and had been in Mexico for a vacation with his wife, Thelma
Thompson, and daughter Sheryl Thompson were involved in a Air accident
on board Alaska Airlines Flight 261. 88 occupants of the flight
unfortunately lost their lives. You can have a look at this link to have a picture of what am telling youhttp://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/
Since then I have made several inquiries in his Embassy to locate any of my client's extended relatives. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet in order to locate any member of his family but that was to no avail, hence I contacted you as his supposed relative since you are also a foreigner. Please, I want you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable here in London where these huge deposits were lodged. He
had an account valued at about BPS 15M (FIFTEEN MILLION BRITISH POUNDS
STERLINGS) and now the finance company has issued me a notice to
provide the next-of-kin or have the account freezed within the next ten
official working days. So am searching for a honest and trust worthy foreigner who can stand as the beneficiary/
relative, hence, I hereby seek your consent to present you as the next
of kin to the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account valued at
US$30M can be paid to you and then you and I can share the money, 70%
to me and 25% to you and the remaining 5% will be set out for nay expenses incurred during the successful transfer of the fund. To present you as the next of kin will pose no difficulty, as there is no risk involved. I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this business proposal to you is 100% real and will be executed under a legitimate arrangement without any problem at all knowing fully well that i am a professional lawyer. Please get in touch with me via my secured and confidential email Email: reed.ian22@yahoo.co.uk immediately you receive this message so that I will give you further details. Remember
to include your own private phone and mobile cell phone with which I
can equally reach you, and you correct informations which i will use to
prepare the documents for the release of the fund. Anticipating your prompt response. Yours Sincerely, BAR.REED IAN
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam