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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• 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.
  • jamescarroll@rediffmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "James Carroll" <jamescarroll@rediffmail.com>
Reply-To: jamescarroll1@rediffmail.com
Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:02:29 +0000
Subject: Mr. Andreas Schranner


Dear Sir/Madam,

I am the family lawyer to late Mr. Schranner who passed away along with his entire family in a plane crash. I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives of my late client, hence i seek your consent to bring you foward as the next of kin inother to make claims. I discovered that he did not declare any next of kin or relation in all his estate,so as the family attorney, the firm has requested that i produce a member of his family with out any further delays.

In the meantime, to commence the re-direction of this fund, I would like you to clarify the following in your response. (1) Have you ever handled a huge business
transaction that was successful in the past? (2) If you are required to travel to fulfil certain obligations or signing of documents, Can you travel within a short
notice? (3) Will your final recipient account be able to receive these funds?

Finally, I will offer you a percentage of these funds after you have successfully received the funds in your account, while i intend to invest mine in your country. To
signify your interest, kindly provide me with Your names, full contact address, telephone, fax number and photo ID, this will be required to commence immediate funds release procedure. Please respond to me ASAP (jamescarroll@rediffmail.com <mailto:jamescarroll@rediffmail.com>).

Anticipating you response


Regards,

James Carroll

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam