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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • ",000,000" (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.
• 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.
  • +447024095901 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • mr_mtthwbrrtt@yahoo.co.uk
  • mtthwbrrtt@gawab.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "matthew barrett" <mtthwbrtt@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 09:40:25 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend


Dear Friend
Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal
Ethics. I introduce myself as Mr. Matthew Barrett staff in the accounts
management Section of a well-known bank here in the United Kingdom. I
needed some i can trust hence my contacting you for this transaction.
One of our accounts with holding balance of ‹¢15,000,000 (Fifteen
Million British Pounds) has been dormant and last operated in the past
seven years. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this
account is a Foreigner by name Kurt MCdonald died on the 31st of July 2000
on a plane that crash into the Hotelissimo
{http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/859479.stm}. Since then nobody has
done anything as regards the claiming of this money as he has no family
Member who is aware of the existence of either the account nor the
Funds. Information from the National Immigration also states that he
was
single on entry into the UK. I have confidentially discussed this issue
with some of the bank officials and we have agreed to find a reliable
foreign partner to deal with. We thus propose to do business with you,
standing in as the next of kin of these funds from the deceased and
funds released to you after due processes have been followed. This
transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is
Legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism
or
any other Illegal act. On your interest, let me hear from you with your
name/residential address/tel/mobile/marital statue/ occupation.
Regards,
Mr. Matthew Barrett
Tel: 44-7024095901
Mobile: 44-7024097391
Email: mr_mtthwbrrtt@yahoo.co.uk or mtthwbrrtt@gawab.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam