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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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• 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.

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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:
  • "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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • mr.stevebolton@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Barr.Steve Bolton" <smn@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mr.stevebolton@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2007 01:25:12 +0000
Subject: Greetings,

Greetings,

I am Barr.Steve Bolton.reaching you to handle an investment
portfolio.I am reaching you to assist in repatriating the funds and property
leftbehind by my late client before it will be confiscated by government and
declared unserviceable by the bank where the huge deposits were lodged.
He died intestate and every attempt to trace any member of his family has proved abortive

and unsuccessful.
Do note that who you are does not matter and you will be better informed when I hear from

you.
I want you to respond by sending:
1. Your full names
2. Tel & fax numbers
3. Complete Address
Send the above information and I will furnish you with more
information about the estate and process of transfer to you.
Yours Faithfully,
Barrister Steve Bolton ESQ.
Dakar Senegal.
Email:mr.stevebolton@yahoo.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam