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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 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)
• 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.
  • lawrence44tan@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Lawrence Tan" <lawrence44tan@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:59:41 +0800
Subject: Urgent Attention Willem Tazelaar


Dear Willem Tazelaar,
I am Lawrence Tan, a legal practitioner in Malaysia. Please be patient and
absorb the contents of this email which I believe is a message that will be
beneficial to the both of us. I am the legal representative to Late Thomas
Willem, who herein after shall be referred to as my late client. He died in
March 2005 as a result of heart condition.
Basically, my aim of writing you is to assist me secure the funds left
behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by
the bank where this fund valued at $5.9million dollars was deposited. I have
a mandate from the bank to present the next of kin to the deceased or the
funds will be confiscated and so far, all my efforts to get hold of someone
related to this man has proved abortive.
I want you to consider this proposal. If you grant your consent that I
present you to the bank as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my deceased
client (since you have the same last name),so that the proceeds of this
account can be transferred to you, then we can share the entire proceeds on
a mutually agreed-upon percentage.
All legal documentation to back up your claim as my deceased client's
next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to
enable us see this transaction through.
This entire process will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law. However, if this business
proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. Please contact
me at once to indicate your interest through my private email:
lawrence44tan@yahoo.com
Best Regards,
Lawrence Tan Esq

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam