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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
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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:
  • "hundred thousand us 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)
  • "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • +447045746786 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
  • +447045771119 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
• 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.
  • mails4foster@sify.com

Fraud email example:

From: BAR PETER FOTSER <oirs@sernageomin.cl>
Reply-To: BAR PETER FOTSER <MAILS4FOSTER@SIFY.COM>
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:55:35 -0400 (CLT)
Subject: DEAR SIR/MADAM


ORIEL CHAMBERS
7 Queens Yard, Whitepost Lane E9 5EN London.
Private Tel: +44 (704) 577 1119
Private Fax: +44 (700) 580 8491

From: Bar. Peter (Esq.)

My Name is Bar. Peter Foster the Personal Attorney to Ronald Lake who died in a Plane Crash (Alaska Airlines Flight 261) on the 31st of January 2000.

Website: http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/

Presently, as the lawyer I have been asked to provide his Next-of-Kin to receive its Deposit valued at US$12, 500, 000.00 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) or have the Funds confiscated.

To this effect, I now seek your consent to present you as the Next-of-Kin to my Client so that the proceeds of his Benefit valued at US$12, 500, 000.00 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand US Dollars) can be paid to you thereafter you and I can share it; 50% to me, 40% to you, while 10% should be given to any Orphanage Home.

Please get in touch with me via E-mail: MAILS4FOSTER@SIFY.COM for further details if you are willing to assist me immediately you acknowledge the good receipt of this message.

Your prompt response is highly imperative.

Yours sincerely,

Bar. Peter Foster (Esq.)
For: Oriel chambers
Tel: +44 704 574 6786
Email: MAILS4FOSTER@SIFY.COM

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam