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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
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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)
• 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.
  • +447011123643 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "John C Taylor LLB" <jtaylor1920@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:34:37 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend (Urgent Family Issue Concerning You)


Dear Friend,

Compliment of the day.

I am John C. Taylor, LLB. A legal practitioner and family attorney to late
Mr. Peter based in the UK.

My late client Mr. Peter and his entire family were involved in an auto
crash some years ago on their way back from their vacation.

Before his death, I assisted him in making a fixed contract deposit of a
huge amount with his bank. Since after his death, his bank has mandated me
to present any of his surviving next of kin or relative to inherit his
deposit or the funds will be appropriated and transferred to the treasury of
the Government as a matter of policy.

Considering the lack of success in my bid to locate any of his relatives for
over a year now, i hereby solicit your consent to enable me present you as
the Next of Kin to my deceased client.

I am contacting you for two strong reasons, firstly, you bear the same name
with my late client, and secondly, the security company does not deserve to
inherit the funds. These reasons led to my resolve to claim the funds, which
was why I contacted you.

With your Permission, I will proceed to establish you as the next of
kin/Beneficiary to my late client. Please get back to me immediately with
your full contacts so that we can proceed.

John C. Taylor, LLB.
SENIOR Partner,
LLB(Hons), BA (Hons)
+44-7011123643.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam