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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister peter Ike <barr.peterike@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:30:37 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: next of kin:Hans van den Berg


Dear Hans van den Berg=A0=20
=A0
I am Barrister Peter Ike,currently representing a big oil servicing company=
in my country Lome-Togo in West Africa.My late client, Peter van den Berg=
=A0 ,who expatriate in my country,with his wife and their one child lost th=
eir lives in World trade center bombing on the 11th of sep. 2001. Before hi=
s death, my deceased client deposited two boxes containing $8,000,000.00 Un=
ited Sates Dollars with a Security Company in Lome-Togo.
=A0
=A0Here He accumulated this money from an onshore engineering award. I deci=
ded to search for any foreigner that has the same surname with my late clie=
nt in repatriating the consignment since I found it unsuccessful to find a =
true relative to him. I want you to quickly file in for claim before the se=
curity company will declare the consignment unserviceable.=20
=A0
=A0The said money was packed in cash in two boxes, the boxes was not opened=
, and he declared it as containing just family valuables of classified docu=
ments and he paid a high price for the special diplomatic service of deposi=
t here (a category of deposit in which a customers consignment is never ope=
ned for inspection).=20
=A0
=A0As you have the same surname with the decease, this is why I am writing =
to you so that I will assist you claim this consignment. I will prepare eve=
ry documentation that will assist your claim. The consignment will be relea=
sed to you within 7 working days after you have filed in for claims. I will=
like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible,Ple=
ase you also include your telephone and fax number for easy communication.=
=A0
=A0
Sincerely,
Bar. Peter Ike(Esq=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam