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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:
  • "dear beloved," (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "remain blessed" (scammers in West Africa like to use religious phrases)
• This email message is a "dying widow" 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.
  • barr.tmartins01@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: barr.tmartins01@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:53:29 -0000
Subject: IN LINE WITH YOUR CREDIBILITY



--
Dear Beloved,

Here writes Madam Sarah Ramsey widow of late Sir James Ramsey, suffering
from cancerous ailment. We were married for eleven years with a son who
was on the same boat mishap with my late Husband.

My late husband deposited the sum of Eight million Pounds Sterling derived
from his vast estates and investment in the capital market with a finance
home here in the United Kingdom. Recently, my doctor told me that I have
limited days to live due to the cancerous problems I am suffering from.

With this hard reality that has befallen my family, I have decided to
donate this fund to you and want you to help me use this gift which comes
from my husbands effort to fund the upkeep of widows,orphans, and the
needy.

I have decided to donate this fund to you. I do hope you would be able to
utilize this money for the said purpose just as I’m going to instruct
herein. I want you to utilize the funds by creating a charity foundation
called ‘JAMES RAMSEY FOUNDATION’ to assist widows and help accident
victims worldwide. This deposit is known by me, our family lawyer and now
you.

Contact our family lawyer with this specified email address; Barrister
Timothy Martins (ESQ)

Email: barr.tmartins01@yahoo.com.hk

Tell him that I have WILLED £8,000,000 to you by quoting my personal
reference number Law/chamber/solicitors/sh/rmy/WILL/983 4520012. I have
also notified him that I am WILLING that amount to you for a specific and
good work.

Remain blessed.

Your Sister,

Madam Sarah Ramsey

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam