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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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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:
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" 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.
  • ashcolesolicitor@aol.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: MRS ANGELA WHITE <angelawhitefx@myway.com>
Reply-To: ashcolesolicitor@aol.co.uk
Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:57:54 +0000
Subject: Don't Let Me Down


Hello,

My name is Mrs. Angela White, a business woman in London. I have been =
diagnosed with esophageal cancer which was discovered very late due to my =
laxity in caring for my health. It has defiled all forms of medication right =
now and I have only few hours left to live, according to medical experts. I =
have never particularly lived my life so well as I never really cared for =
anyone not even me but my business. Though I am very rich, but I was never =
generous. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life =
than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. Now that God =
has called me through this way I willed most of my properties and asset to my =
immediate and extended family and as well as few close friends. I am going in =
for an operation now, and i dont think i will make it.

I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul and so with that reason I =
decided to give alms to CHARITY ORGANISATIONS, as I want this to be one of =
the last good deed I did on earth.

I now give you the authority to dispatch my last funds to CHARITY =
organizations. I have set aside 40% of the total amount $1,500,000.00 One =
million five hundred thousand dollars) for you and your time and patience for =
carrying out this duties. This means you will keep $600,000 (Six hundred =
thousand dollars) for yourself and donate the rest to any charity =
organisation of your choice. May God be with you as you carry out this task. =
I beleive with this, i can now be free to depart peacefully.

If you can render me this assistance, you can then contact my lawyer who will =
assist you in getting the funds to you in my absence if i die or not. He =
would give you more details. His name is Barr. Ashbert Cole and his email =
address is: ( ashcolesolicitor@aol.co.uk) He would guide you through =
receiving the funds.

Best Regards,
Angela White

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam