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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
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• 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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (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. )
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (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.
  • koffi_j111@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: kjohnson2005tg@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:26:24 -0800 (PST)
Subject: GOOD DAY TO YOU.....PLEASE CALL ME FOR MORE DETAILS


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: koffi_j111@yahoo.com



- FROM:KOFFI & ASSOCIATES. (BARRISTER,KOFFI JOHNSON) SOLICITORS AND ADVOCATE, # 63 NORTH KANISHI ROAD ACCRA-GHANA. TEL:00233 2487 56560. Attn: , I am Barrister Koffi Johnson, A solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Mark , a nationality of your country, who worked with Shell Development Company Accra-Ghana in West Africa,Herein after shall be referred to as my client. On 21st of April 2004, My client his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Aflao Ghana Road Accra. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries in your embassy and many other several attempt to locate any of my client's extended relatives. But this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family, Hence I contacted you since you have the same last name with my late client.I have contacted you to assist!
in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where his huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, Ghana Commercial Bank (G.C.B) where the deceased had a premium account valued at about twenty five Million United States Dollars ($25,million), has issued me a notice to provide the beneficiary /next of kin or if not they will have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over a year now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at ($25,000.000.00) can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money 50% for me and 40% for you. while the remaining 10% will be left aside for any expenses we may incure while transferring the money,I have all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up a!
ny claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to ena
ble us see this through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law .Best regards, Barr. Koffi Johnson Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam