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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:
  • "million 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)
  • "@lawyer.com" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • johnsk@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: John Skelton Esq <jsk@royalsfh.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:00:04 -0700
Subject: Hello and Good Day, Urgent Attention Please!!




John Skelton & Associates
88, Woolworth Rd. SE1 7AA,
London, England.
Email: johnsk@lawyer.com


Hello and Good Day,

I presumed that all is well with you and your family. Please let this
not be a surprise message to you because I got your contact
information from the international directory few weeks ago, before I
decided to contact you on this magnitude and lucrative transaction.
Moreover, I have laid all the solemn trust in you before I decided to
disclose this successful & confidential transaction to you. This is a
personal email directed to you and I request that it should be treated as such.

I am John Skelton, a solicitor at law and I represent a late top
company executive here in UK. I have a very sensitive and private
brief to ask for your partnership to re-profile funds over £9.8million pounds
(Nine Million Eight Hundred Thousand British Pounds Sterling).I will
give the details, but in summary, the funds is coming via a Securities
Finance House in Europe and this is a legitimate transaction.

If you can able to work to earn those fees, please write back
immediately by Email and provide me with your confidential Telephone
and fax number and I will provide further details.


I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement
that will protect you from any breach of law. I will not fail to
bring to your notice that this proposal is hitch-free and that you should
not entertain any fears as the required arrangements have been made
for the completion of this transaction.

Like I said, I require only a solemn confidentiality on this. Please
get in touch with me by my alternative email: johnsk@lawyer.com,
for better confidentiality and send to me your telephone and fax numbers
to enable us discuss further on this transaction.


Thanks for your understanding.

My Regards.
John Skelton (Esq.)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam