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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
  (+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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
  • "is 100% risk-free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • +447024065016 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Greg Edward" <greg.edward@klikni.cz>
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 00:31:48 +0100
Subject: Late Daniel G. Seith


Dear Friend,

This is a personal email directed to you and I request that it be
treated as such.

I am Mr. Greg Edwards, a solicitor at law and a personal attorney to
Late Daniel G. Seith here in referred to as my client, who worked as an
independent contractor with the Shell Development Company here in
UNITED KINGDOM.

On the 21st of April 2004 my client, his wife and their only daughter
were involved in a car accident along Kent Road and all occupants of
the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my clients
extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

I have contacted you to assist in receiving this funds into your
account valued at Twenty Eight Million United States Dollars
only($US28,000,000.00) left behind by my client with a finance
institute in United Kingdom before it gets confisticated or declared
unserviceable by the finance institute where this amount was deposited.

The Director of the finance institute contacted me and asked that I
as the attorney to late Daniel should present either his cousins or his
next of kin so that they will release and transfer the funds left in
their custody to them.

Ever since then, I have made several attempts to locate any of his
cousins or next of kin so that they will come forward to put in claims
to the said funds but unfortunately, I discovered that in all his files
with my chambers, he never mentioned having any relatives nor cousin's.

After several attempts to trace any of his relatives, I decided to
source for a reputable and trustworthy person over the Internet Directory,
hence I contacted you.

One fact remains clear, that anybody I present to the finance firm as
his next of kin, shall inherit the fund and it is based on this fact
that I ask you to get back to me immediately so that we both will discuss on
terms of partnership in this issue.

I will also forward your name to the finance firm as his legitimate
next of kin backed up with a sworn affidavit from the magistrate
court of United Kingdom.

Be advised that this transaction is 100% risk-free as this transaction
will remain sealed for life at the conclusion.

I await your immediate response to this email so that I will give you a
more comprehensive detail regards to this transaction.

Mr. Greg Edwards,
Principal Attorney.
Phone: +44 702 406 5016
mr-gregedward@live.co.uk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam