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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "the consignment" (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)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: Mark Peter <petermark72@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: barr.mark_peter@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 11:55:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Next Of Kin!!! Bram Schouten




Dear Bram Schouten=20
=A0
I am Barrister Mark Peter, a legal practitioner, I am the personal attorney=
to Late Mr. P.A. Schouten, a national Of your country, who used to work wi=
th Mobil Development Company in Lome, Togo. He used to be my client. He Die=
d with his wife and their only child=A0 in World trade center bombing on th=
e 11th of sep. 2001. Before his death, my deceased client deposited two box=
es containing $8,000,000.00 United Sates Dollars with a Security Company in=
Lome-Togo.
=A0
Here He accumulated this money from an onshore engineering award. I decided=
to search for any foreigner that has the same surname with my late client =
in repatriating the consignment since I found it unsuccessful to find a tru=
e relative to him. I want you to quickly file in for claim before the secur=
ity company will declare the consignment unserviceable.
=A0
The money was packed in cash in two boxes, the boxes was not opened, and he=
declared it as containing just family valuables of classified documents an=
d he paid a high price for the special diplomatic service of deposit here (=
a category of deposit in which a customers consignment is never opened for =
inspection).
=A0
=A0As you have the same surname with the decease, this is why I am writing =
to you so that I will assist you claim this consignment. I will prepare eve=
ry documentation that will assist your claim. The consignment will be relea=
sed to you within 7 working days after you have filed in for claims. I will=
like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible,Ple=
ase you also include your telephone and fax number for easy communication.
=A0
Sincerely,
=A0
Barrister Mark Peter (Esq)
=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam