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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • "urgent assistance" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • williamseow60@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: William Seow <williamseow70@myway.com>
Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:03:53 +0200
Subject: I AWAIT YOUR URGENT REPLY

 

FROM: Barrister William Seow,
No.45, Ladipo Street,
Ikeja, Lagos State.
BP/IN-443/5/2007
E-mail: williamseow60@myway.com
Dear Good Friend,

Compliments, I am Barrister William Seow, a solicitor at Law and the
personal attorney to late Mr Newman Smith an American Citizen Residing in NIGERIA hereinafter shall be referred as my client who is an expertriat with Nigerian Oil development . On Sunday, 2nd February, 2003, my client, his wife and two children died in bomb blast in lagos Nigeria . Unfortunately, my client Mr Newman Smith Ever since this tragic and traumatic events, I have made frantic efforts to establish contacts with his relatives, but could not succeed. Due to the fact considering the nature of my clients business dealings, he never
presented any name on Documentation as his possible next of kin. You may visit this websites to be sure:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2698081.stm

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating his money and property left behind before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this huge deposit was lodged.Well, the deceased had the sum of US$24.7 million dollars (Family Treasure) Saved with the Bank . After notification of the death of the deceased to the Bank, they issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the Funds confisicated within the next 6 months . I solicit your urgent assistance and co-operation as a foreigner for easy passage of the funds to your
designated Bank account. I am therefore with all sense of humility decided to make contact with you in order to assist in claiming and retrieving the money left behind by my client.

All other further information to that effect at my disposal will be made available to you upon your consent and the acceptance of the project. The funds when retrieved and successfully secured will be shared thus: - myself, the attorney 50%, yourself the presented next of kin 30%, while 10% will go to Charity and possibly the bomb blast victims in line with my clients belief and support for Charity as a great philanthropist during his life time, the
balance of 10% will be for contingency expenses to be incurred during the process by both parties.

I assure you the fullest and absolute co-operation and a hitch free operation in this regards. I equally guarantee you total protection against any breach of the law in line with my legal profession. You are indeed very free to ask questions you deem necessary for further clarifications, and please endeavor to always keep secret all information concerning this transaction. Your most urgent response will be highly appreciated through my email in order to avoid making further contacts. PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REPLY ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE
E-MAIL: williamseow60@myway.com SO THAT I WILL GET IT IMMEDIATELY.
NOTE: YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SPEND A DOLLAR TILL THE END OF THE TRANSACTION ALL THE EXPENSES WILL BE TAKING CARE BY ME, YOUR DUTY IS FOR YOU TO STAND TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY $24.7M THEM YOU WILL TAKE YOUR OWN SHARE BEFORE GIVE ME MY PART. YOUR FULL CO-OPERATION IS NEEDED IN THIS TRANSACTION

Yours Faithfully,
Barrister William Seow.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam