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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:
  • "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)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "@lawyer.com" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • danjlyerson@lawyer.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <danjohndsf@yahoo.com.co>
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:08:20 +0000
Subject: 11 - 17 - 08



11 - 17 - 08 i am Barr.Dan Johnson, solicitor and notary public,the personalattorney to Mr. Mark David ,a national of your country. On the 21stof April 2004, my client, his wife and their only son were involvedin a car accident along Accra / Kumasi express road. Unfortunatelythey all lost their lives in the event of the accident, since then ihave made several enquiries to locate any of my clients extendedrelatives and this has also proved unsuccessful. After these severalunsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over theInternet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence Icontacted you.

I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property leftbehind before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by thesecurity where my client lodge these huge deposits (US$7.5million)U.S dollars. Particularly, Since I have been unsuccessful in locatingthe relatives for over some years now, I seek your consent to presentyou as the next of kin of the deceased, We will share fortune thus50% for me and 45% to you, while 5% should be for expenses or tax asyour government may require. I have all necessary legal documentsthat can be used to backup the claim. All I require is your honestcooperation to enable us see this deal through: Please contact me through this Email: danjlyerson@lawyer.com Regards Dan

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam