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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +2340739165893

Fraud email example:

From: "PATRICK COLE" <patrickcoleuka3@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: patrickcoleuka@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 15:21:14 +0100
Subject: Congratulation,


Attention:

Your e-mail address came up in a random draw conducted
by our law firm,Alpha Law Chambers in Lagos Nigeria

My name is BARR.PATRICK COLE (esq). A personal attorney to our late client
Mr.Kenneth Johnson, who worked for an oil firm in Nigeria. Mr.Kenneth
Johnson a well known Philanthropist,before he died, he made a Will in our
law firm stating that $5M (Five million U.S. dollars only) should be donated
to any Philanthropist of our choice overseas.


We have made a random draw and your name and e-mail address was picked as
the beneficiary to this Will. I am particularly interested in securing this
money from the Bank, because they have issued a notice instructing us to
produce the beneficiary of this Will within two weeks which happens to be
you or else the money will be credited to the Government treasury as per law
here.


It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of our late client. You are
required to contact me immediately to start the process of transfering this
money to any of your designated official account. I urge you to contact me
immediately for further details bearing in mind that the Bank has given us a
date limit.
Please contact me urgently via my personal email address

Congratulation,
BARR.PATRICK COLE Uka[Esq].

PHONE +234 07391 658 93

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam