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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "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 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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348080453427 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • awelawchambers.2006@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Duke=20Patricks?= <dukepatricks@yahoo.com.co>
Reply-To: awelawchambers1111@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:13:25 -0800 (PST)
Subject: INHERITANCE CLAIM


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:dukepatricks@yahoo.com.co



- - Hello,I am barrister Duke Patricks a Solicitor. I am the Personal Attorney to Late (Dr) Abraham Scott, who was a contractor with the DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS. (Dr) Abraham Scott Died of a cardiac arrest on 1st of July 2005.Since I got Information about his death, I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but of no avail hence I contacted you. I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared lodged, unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had account valued at about $11.5 million dollars.I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you are from the same country so that the proceeds of this account valued at $11.5 million dollars can be paid to you. I agree that 45% of this money will be for you as foreign partner.Reply-to (awelawchambers.2006@yahoo.com)or call + 234-808-045-3427.I require your phone & fax number as well.Thank you,Barr.Duke Patricks Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam