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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.

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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (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.
• 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.
  • +447045764624 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Eric Hall" <ehallbarr@fastwebmail.it>
Reply-To: ehallbarrs@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:18:51 +0100
Subject: INVESTMENT.


From the Desk of
Eric Hall Chambers
58 Market Street,
London.


RE: INVESTMENT.

May I introduce myself as barrister Eric Hall.
I know you will be surprised to see this mail from me. Although it is all
about the investment my client (Mrs Doris Russell) wants to do in your
country.
Mrs Doris Russell is the wife of late Mr Robert Russell a white farmer
from South Africa . He died in the crises between President Robert Mugabe of
Zimbabwe and the white farmers in Zimbabwe in the year 2002.

Before the incident, he deposited the sum of US$4.5 million dollars in one
of the banks in Europe.
The wife decided to invest with the funds on "REAL ESTATE BUSINESS"
While i.am contacting you is to assist this woman and receive these funds
into your account for the investment.

In addition of this, if you know any moving business in your country, you
are free to inform me.
Finally for your acceptance to assist , I need to have your contact
telephone and fax numbers.

Thanking you in advance.
Regards,
Mr Eric Hall
Barrister& Solicitor
Tel:+44 7045764624.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam