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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "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. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "million us 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)
  • "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 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.
  • barr_judy500@yahoo.co.in (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister Judy <judyjames61@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <barr_judy2006@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2007 08:10:41 +0100
Subject: DEAR ALBAN,



DEAR ALBAN,
I am Barrister Judy James, personal attorney to late Engr. PATRICK ALBAN,who was a contractor with the Shell Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria, here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2001, he and his newly married wife were involved in an auto crash, all occupants of the vehicle lost their lives. The deceased (Mr. PATRICK ALBAN) had a deposit valued presently at $15million US Dollars with a bank here and the Bank has issued me a notice as his lawyer to provide his next of kin or Beneficiary by Will otherwise have the account confiscated within the next thirty official working days.Since then, I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extended relatives but this has proven unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to make a search to get someone who bears the same surname with the deceased so that I can present the person to the Bank as the Next of kin and Beneficiary of the fund so this is why I have contacted you.
I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you are bearing the same last name,so that the proceeds of this account valued at $15Million US dollars can be paid to you. This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 50% to me,40% to you and 10% for taxes. I will provide all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.All I require is your honest Co-operation,Confidentiality and Trust to enable us see this transaction through.I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from breach of the law. Get in touch with me urgently by on:( barr_judy500@yahoo.co.in) and provide me the following information to enable me file a letter to the Bank and also submit your name as the Next of kin:
1.Your full Name2.Your Telephone Number and Fax Number3.Your Contact Address.4.Occupation.
I Await Your Response.
Barrister. Judy James.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam