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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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)
  • "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)
  • "my direct telephone number" (a "direct line" in a scam usually means an untraceable mobile phone number used by a scammer in an internet cafe, a redirection service number that forwards to a mobile or a free voicemailbox in a different country.)
  • "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 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.
  • +2347027705443
• 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.
  • tonyabbaslegal@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "tony abbas" <tonyabbaslegal3@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2008 03:18:56 -0700
Subject: GREETINGS/URGEN


*Dear Friend,

Compliments of the day, I am Tony Abbas the attorney to
Late Engr Alex, a National of your country, a business man and an
investor who died and left behind his deposit in a finance house
valued at $14.5Millon (Fourteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United
States Dollars Only).

Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of Engr.Alex
extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. I seek your
consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the
proceeds of this account valued at US$14.500,000 (Fourteen Million
Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) can be paid to you and
then you and i can share the money. 70% to me and 30% to you. The
request of you a foreigner as next of kin in this business is
occasioned by the fact that My client was a foreigner and i cannot
stand as a next of kin to a foreigner.

I am ready to re-negotiate the mode of sharing with you. If you find
this proposal suitable for you do get back to me with the following
informations Your full Name and Contact Address, Your private
telephone Number Your Age Your Occupation and Position.

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal
through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate
arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please
for the sake of confidentiality send your reply to my private email:
tonyabbaslegal@gmail.com,also do feel free to call my direct telephone
number +234-702-770-5443
Hoping to receive a positive response from you soon.

Best Regards

Barrister Tony Abbas
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam