419 scam: Carlos Ortega <jjjyounguk1@live.com> Urgent Notice

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "might come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Carlos Ortega <jjjyounguk1@live.com>
Reply-To: ccarlosortegauk@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 14 Feb 2010 01:45:30 +0100
Subject: Urgent Notice

Hello My Friend,

This proposal might come to you as a surprise but believe me that it =
is transparent business.I am Carlos Ortega,an external auditor in Lon=
don,England.In the course of our yearly routine audit of investment P=
ortfolio, I discovered that a personal account has been dormant for o=
ver two years with a huge balance, =A36.000.000.00 (Six Million Pound=
s). The account belongs to a single beneficiary (name witheld for sec=
uriry reasons).Further investigations of the said account reveal that=
the late investor last operated the account in 2007, about the time =
of his death. He died without a will and also with no next of kin, so=
there was no beneficiary/nobody coming forward all these years to la=
y claim to the investment account.

The personal investment account in this instance has been dormant for=
about 2 Years, thus making it a dormant account. I wish to inform yo=
u that using our Inside leverage, we (I am working on this with an at=
torney at this time), Together with yourself can secure the funds in =
this account for us instead of allowing it sent to the Treasury of th=
e Government of the United Kingdom. All we need is your approval and =
the lawyer will file for an application for proceeds on your behalf. =
All necessary legal documents required will be provided.

You shall be adequately compensated for your part in this transaction=
and also helping me invest my share of the funds when the money is i=
n your account. I shall however leave out the other details of this t=
ransaction till i receive an affirmation of your desire to participat=
e. I can assure you that we are completely in charge of the transacti=
on and as such there is no risk whatsoever if you decide to work with=
us. It is however important to say that secrecy is of vital importan=
ce if we are to successfully reap the immense benefits of this transa=
ction.

I look forward to hearing from you.

With warmest personal regards and best wishes,

Carlos Ortega

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam