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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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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)
  • "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 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)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: info info <enq_marion40@hotmail.co.uk>
Reply-To: <marion_kellen@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:23:30 +0000
Subject: Greeting to you and your family.




From: Barr.Marion Kellen.(Esq) Kellen & Associates,
Knights Quarter,14 st.John's Lane,London,England.

Dear friend.


I am Barr. Marion Kellen, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Late Engr. Robert Glen, who died in a plane crash together with his wife and two children on the 25th day of July 2000. He was a national of your country,and as his personal attorney have been notified by his bank of the lump sum of money which he deposited in an account with them. I have been asked to provide his next of kin to lay claim on this said fund.Check out this website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/859479.stm
Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his name over the Internet to locate any member of his family or someone bearing the same surname with him or someone capable of assisting, hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in securing the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the finance company where the deceased had an account valued at about USD$18.4 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next Seven (7) Working official working days.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Await your reply if willing to assist.

Name in full..... Address................. Country.................0ccupation.............. Date of Birth........... Telephone/Fax No........

Have a nice day.Barr. Marion Kellen ( Esq).
_________________________________________________________________
Who's friends with who and co-starred in what?
http://www.searchgamesbox.com/celebrityseparation.shtml

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam