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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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 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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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 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.
  • rashidk7@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: rashidk7@hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:25:59 +0545
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS



FROM THE DESK OF
RASHID CHAMBERS
LEGAL SOLICITORS/PRIVATE
LAW 23 JIN JANG SENTUL
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA.

Attention:

Your e-mail address came up in a random draw conducted by our law firm,
RASHID CHAMBERS in KUALA LUMPUR MALAYSIA .

My name is KHALID RASHID (ESQ). A personal attorney to our late client Mr
MUSTAPHA RASHEED. Who died along wit his entire family in the Gulf Air
Flight Crashes in Persian Gulf near Bahrain Aired August 23, 2000 - 2:50p.m.
ET as reported on: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23/bn.08.html

My late client worked for an oil firm in Malaysia, who was a well known
Philanthropist before he died, he made a Will in our law firm stating that
Two Million United States Dollars Only ($2.000.000.00) should be donated to
any Philanthropist of our choice overseas.

We have made a random draw and your e-mail address was picked as the
beneficiary to this Will. I am particularly interested in securing this
money from the Bank, because they have issued a notice instructing us to
produce the beneficiary of this Will within two weeks which happens to be
you or else the money will be credited to the Government treasury as per law
here.

It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of our late client. You are
required to contact me immediately to start the process of transfer of fund
to any of your designated official account. I urge you to contact me
immediately for further details bearing in mind that the Bank has given us a
date limit.

Provide me with your direct phone number so I can call you for further
instructions via my
email address.. rashidk7@hotmail.com


CONGRATULATIONS.

Regards.
RASHID KHALID { ESQ)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam