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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:
  • "million 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)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "barr." (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "chambers" (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 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.
  • +2347085652313
• 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.
  • pelly_smit@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "pelly smith" <pellysmithchambers@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:45:47 +0100
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL


EXPRESS CHAMBERS,PLOT 267A BLOCK 01B GARKI
WEST AFRICA +234 7085652313
E-MAIL: pelly_smit@yahoo.com

DEAR SIR

I am Barrister PELLY SMITH, solicitor and personal attorney to Mr.BARTH ,a
native of your country, who worked with TOTAL Petroleum Prospecting Company
in the Republic of South Africa, here in after referred to as my client.
Please treat this as highly
Confidential.

On the 27th of November 2002, my client, his wife and their three children
were involved in a car accident along Johannesburg/cape town Express road,
South Africa and all occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their
lives.

Since then, several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients
extended relative has also Proved unsuccessful hence, after these several
unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet,
to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left
behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by
the SECURITIES FIRM where this deposit was lodged.The Stallion security
company South Africa where the deceased had This family deposited fund
valued at U.S$11.3 million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the
next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next 14 working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over ONE year
now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
to have the same last name so that the proceeds of this Account valued at
U.S$11.3 million dollars can be paid to you and then you and I can share the
money. 60% to me and 35% to you (NEGOTIABLE) and 5% will be set aside for
contingency expenses. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us
seeing this project through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you and I from any breach of the law. You are sincerely
required to contact me urgently if you are in position to Honestly cooperate
with me in this regard. Please reply to this mail
pelly_smit@yahoo.comReason for this is to avoid my junior partners
from having knowledge of this
matter.

Best regards,
Barr.Pelly smith Esq.
Principal Partner: EXPRESS CHAMBERS

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam