419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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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:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
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:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- agomck@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: <CHARLES-FEENEY_RANDOM.GIVEN34@BARRISTERLARRYMCKI.onmicrosoft.com>
Reply-To: <agomck@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2013 15:45:50 -1200
Subject: YOU ARE AMONG THE LUCK SELECTED INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEEN RANDOMLY GIVEN
US$2.5M EACH WORLDWIDE.

YOU ARE AMONG THE LUCK SELECTED INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEEN RANDOMLY GIVEN US$2.5M EACH WORLDWIDE.

Hi,

I must confess that it is with great joy and enthusiasm that I am writing you this mail which I know and believe by faith that it must surely find you in good condition of health. I am Larry McKinney, the Family Trustee of the Late Chuck Feeney, a philanthropist and the Founder of the Atlantic Philanthropies, one of the Largest Private Foundations in the World Today. The man who gave away US$7.5Billion: Philanthropist who inspired Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, wants all his money spent on good causes, he believe strongly in â€˜giving while livingâ€™.

One day he said to me, I had one idea that never changed in my mind â€” that I should use my wealth to help people and I have decided to secretly give US$2.5 Million to Randomly Lucky Selected Individuals Worldwide. On receipt of this email, you should count yourself as one of the lucky individual amongst the list of those their E-mail Address was chosen Online while searching at RANDOM.

I have made several effort to contact you earliest before now but every efforts been made proves abortive, I sent several to you before which returned to me undelivered, but I am very happy that I have break through today hence you received my email regarding money been given to you by the Late Chuck Feeney, a philanthropist. Kindly get back to me at your earliest convenience so that I can give break down on how you can claim your money. Philanthropist Chuck Feeney made his fortune in a duty free company and His Atlantic Philanthropies Foundation will give away its money by 2020.

CONTACT E-MAIL:
Email: agomck@gmail.com
BARRISTER LARRY MCKINNEY & PARTNERS.

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam