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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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• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • cathyrichscole_2@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Cathy Richscole" <cathyrichscole_7@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2006 22:00:26 +0000
Subject: NEXT OF KIN NEEDED

DEAR, SIR/MADAM
MY NAME IS CATHY RICHSCOLE,I AM THE PERSONAL ACCOUNTANT TO LATE
MR.WELSH HOLMES WHO DIED IN AN EGYPTIAN AIR LINE IN A PLANE CRASH IN
JUNE 1996.


HE LEFT THE SUM OF 10 MILLION AMERICAN DOLLARS A BANK,S CODED
ACCOUNT AND HE DID NOT SPECIFY ANY BODY AS THE NEXT OF KIN AND
THE BENEFICIARY OF THE MONEY


SINCE I AM THE PERSONAL ACCOUNTANT THE BANK HAVE ASKED ME TO COME UP
WITH A NEXT OF KIN OR ELSE THE MONEY WILL BE FORFEITED AND GIVEN AS
DIVIDENDS IN THE NEXT SHARE HOLDERS MEETING.

THE REASON WHY I WRITE YOU IS THIS.I WOULD WANT YOU TO AGREE TO BE
THE NEXT OF KIN,AND THE BENEFICIARY OF THE CLAIM.AND IF YOU AGREE

30% OF THE TOTAL MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU FOR ASSISTING ME,%40 WILL GO TO
MY
FIRM,AND 30% WILL GO TO CHARITY.

THIS TRANSACTION IS 100% RISK FREE, I AM AN
INSIDER. ALL THE DOCUMENTS AND FILES ARE IN MY
POSSESSION.IF YOU ARE INTERESTED YOU CAN REACH ME WITH MY CONFIDENTIAL
E.MAIL ADDRESS WHICH
IS cathyrichscole_2@yahoo.com


IF YOU ARE INTERESTED CONTACT ME FOR MORE DETAILS.
HOPING TO HERE FROM YOU SOON
REGARDS.

CATHY RICHSCOLE

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam