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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:

• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (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)
  • "barrister" (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 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.
  • akomas_chambers@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "johnamosakomas5@superposta.com" <johnamosakomas5@superposta.com>
Reply-To: akomas_chambers@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:35:03 +0100
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF BARR JOHN AMOS AKOMAS


FROM THE DESK OF BARR JOHN AMOS AKOMAS





Good Day,



I am BARRISTER JOHN AMOS AKOMAS, an attorney at law. A deceased client of
mine, who hereinafter shall be referred to as my client, died as the result
of a heart- related condition on the 11 November 2001. His heart condition
was due to the death of all the members of his family in the Gulf Air Flight
Crashes in Persian Gulf Near Bahrain Aired August 23, 2000 - 2:50 p.m. ET as
reported on:http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23/bn.08.html I have
contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client
before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this
deposit valued at FOUR MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS. ($400.000 000USD). is
lodged. This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the
account will be confiscated. My proposition to you is to seek your consent
to present you as the next- of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since
you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be
paid to you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon
percentage. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's
next-of- kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to
enable us see this transaction through. This will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from many breach of the law. If
this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. I
must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence
to keep this matter extraordinary confidential, whatever your decision,
while I await your prompt response. Please contact me at once to indicate
your interest. pls get back to me .OR YOU CAN CALL ME +226 76 40 82 34 OR
akomas_chambers@yahoo.co.uk

Best regards,

Barrister John Amos Akomas

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam