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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:
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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • barrpaul_esq@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: paul chambers <barr_paul_6@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:49:58 +0100
Subject: HELLO



FROM THE DESK OFPAUL JOHN & CO LAW FIRM,20 LATEEF SALAMI LANE,VICTORIA ISLAND LAGOS,LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA.

HELLO,
Your e-mail address came up in a random draw conducted by our law firm,PAUL JOHN{Law Chamber in LAGOS State. Nigeria.

My name is PAUL JOHNESQ. A personal attorney to our late client Mr. James Harrison who use to worked for an oil firm in Nigeria. Mr. James Harrison a well known Philanthropist, before he died, he made a Will stating that $7.2M (Seven million and two hundred thousand us dollars) should be donated to any Philanthropist of our choice overseas. We have made a random draw that your e-mail address was picked as the beneficiary to this Will.

I am particularly interested in securing this money from the Bank, because they have issued a notice instructing us to produce the beneficiary of this Will within two weeks or else the money will be credited to the Government treasury as per law here.
It is my utmost desire to execute the Will of our late client.

You are required to contact me immediately to start the process of sending this money to any of your designated official account.I urge you to contact me immediately for further details bearing in mind that the Bank has given us a date limit. Please act fast; please contact me on my private email address barrpaul_esq@yahoo.com
PAUL JOHN ESQ.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam