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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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 amount of money" (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)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • ",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)
  • "barrister" (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.
  • barristerjamesreid@yahoo.ca (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Barrister James Reid <barristerjames.reid@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:17:00 -0800 (PST)
Subject: URGENT ATTENTION PLS.


256 High Road,
North Finchley,
London Uk.

Greetings,

I got your contact as a trustworthy and reliable
person. Please pay attention and understand my reason
of contacting you today through this email. I am James
Reid, a Solicitor at law and the accredited legal
representative to late Mr. Mike Hall, a British
citizen who was residing in Johor Malaysia with his
wife Carol.
Herein referred to as my client, he died in the
tsunami disaster on 26th December 2004. For more
information view BBC internet website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4145219.stm

I desperately need your assistance to secure and move
some huge amount of money left behind by my late
client to the tune of $9,500,000.00 (Nine Million five
hundred thousand United States Dollars). I will pay
you 35% of the total sum for your co-operation in this
matter. I will give you more details on your positive
response, also include in your reply your mobile
telephone number so that we can discuss in details. I
can be reached urgently through my personal e-mail
barristerjamesreid@yahoo.ca

Yours faithfully
Barr James Reid (esq).

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam