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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "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.
  • mr.ricardo@claranet.de (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Esq. Ricardo" <mrrricardo@aol.de> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mr.ricardo@claranet.de
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:58:06 +0100
Subject: RE: NEXT OF KIN TO LATE MR. JOHN

Dear Friend.
RE: NEXT OF KIN TO LATE MR. JOHN

With great pleasure, I am writing this proposal on behalf of my chamber.
I got your information through my personal search on the Internet. Hence I decided to seek your co-operation, due to the sensitivity of this transaction and my commitment as a lawyer.
I am Barrister Ricardo Ramirez an European based lawyer, representing a foreigner Late Mr.John, who died on December 2004 (South Asia Tsunami) along with his family while he was in Thailand for a Christmas holiday.

Before his death, he deposited a huge sum of money (US$25.5) which no other person knew about, which he intended to invest in Eastern Europe. This fund has NO other beneficiary and I have the original documents for the Deposit and Claim. The amount involved is (US$25.5M) Twenty Five Millions Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars.

The fund is right now under the custody of a Security Company, which I will not like to disclose at the moment until I confirm your willingness to assist me in this project.

As his Personal Legal Adviser, the Security Company wrote me a letter, asking me to present his NEXT OF KIN, to enable them release the said funds, since my client is now late and also the fund was agreed to be deposited for only period of four (4) Months.

My constraint is to be able to source a foreign partner who has the same LAST NAME with my client and also honest and trustworthy individual, so that I can present to the Security Company as the NEXT OF KIN so that the fund can be release to him.

I am willing to give you (30% ), (10%) for taxes and other miscellaneous expenses, while I receives (60%) which I intend to invest in your country via any profitable business venture that you may recommend to me.

This transaction is 100% risk free provided you treat it with utmost secrecy and confidentiality and also with my position and a lawyer, I will perfect all the necessary documents on your name as soon as you are ready to do this deal with me.

If you are interested, endeavour to furnish me with your current information as stated below so as to apply for the release of the fund in your favour: -

A. Names
B. Address
C. Phone and Fax Numbers,
D. Occupation
E. Date of Birth
F. Sex and Marital Status.
Send me your response through my personal e-mail : mr.ricardo@claranet.de

Thank you and God Bless.

Barrister Ricardo Ramirez
ATTORNEY -AT- LAW

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam