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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.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united state 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a "Yukos oil" scam. The criminals who send such emails have no connection to Yukos Oil. The emails are usually sent from Nigeria. The only money that ever changes hands in this scam is from you to the criminals.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +447006058116 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Evening News" <eveningnews@tv3.com.gh>
Reply-To: williamspowell.lawfirm2@live.com
Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:04:52 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION


WILLIAMS POWELL & ASSOCIATES
London Office: 45-51 Whitfield Street,
LONDON, W1T 4HB, UK.
Tel: 44.703.183.8001
Fax: 44-7006-058-116
Email: williamspowell.lawfirm2@live.com


Dear Friend,

My name is Barrister Williams Powell of WILLIAMS POWELL & ASSOCIATES in
London, a senior Advocate of Law and a personal solicitor to Mr. Boris
Mikhail Khodorkovsky,The arrested Chairman/ CEO of Yukos Oil and Bank
Menatep SPB in Russia who is presently in jail.
I have the documents of a large amount of funds which he handed over to
me before he was detained and tried in Russia for financing political
parties (the Union of Right Forces, led by Boris Nemtsov and Yabloko, a
Liberal/ Social Democratic Party led by Gregory Yavlinsky) opposed to
the Government of Mr.Vladmir Put in, the current President of Russia,
thereby leading to the freezing of his finances and assets.
You can read more about his ordeal from the following sites:

Http://www.supportmbk.com
Http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2005/03/29/58914.html
Http://news.ft.com/cms/4bb9612a-d254-11d8-b661-00000e2511c8.html
Http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3213505.stm
Http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3042850.stm

After searching through the books of your Country\'s Chambers of
Commerce and Industries, I am contacting you to assist me to Re-profile
the funds and equally invest same on his behalf. The total amount of
funds to be re-profiled is Forty Six Million United State Dollars
(USD$46,000,000.00) and you will be paid40% for your Management Fees.

1. Name in full.....................................................
2. Address.............................................................
3. Nationality.......................................................
4.
Age.....................................................................
5. Occupation.......................................................
6. Phone/Fax.........................................................
7. Present Country...............................................

This is a legitimate transaction. If you are interested, please write
back by
mail and provide me with your confidential telephone number, fax number
and email address and I will provide further details and instructions.
Please keep this very confidential; we can't afford more political
Problems. Finally, please note that this must be concluded within two
weeks. Please write back promptly. Write me back through this personal
email address (williamspowell.lawfirm2@live.com) I look forward to it.
I will send you the necessary details and relevant documents.

Yours Sincerely,

Barrister Williams Powell
WILLIAMS POWELL & ASSOCIATES

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam