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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (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. )
  • "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)
• 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.
  • +447024093881 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Giancarlo Piroddi <piroddi48@msn.com>
Reply-To: <giancarlo.piroddi_esq@gala.net>
Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 12:54:35 +0000
Subject: Great Opportunity !!!




My Dear



I am Giancarlo Piroddi a solicitor and personal attorney to Mrs Anselma Piroddi,an Italian citizen, who before her death was an art collector.Anselma died a few years ago and left me the responsibility of locating and transferring ownership of the estate worth 1.5million she left for her only son, Angelo Piroddi.



Since then I have made several inquiries to locate the benefactor but this has proved unsuccessful.



Angelo Piroddi has now been confirmed dead, and he died intestate, I have decided to contact you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they are confiscated or declared unserviceable by her bankers, where the deceased had an account valued at about 7, 500,000.00 (Seven Million Five hundred Thousand pounds sterling) as at last months assessment.



The bank has issued me with a notice as the attorney to the deceased to provide the next of kin or the account will be deemed unserviceable within the next 21 official working days, since I have been unsuccessful in locating any of Angelo Piroddis heirs over the years, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to Angelo Piroddis.



As the attorney to Late Mrs Anselma Piroddi,I have all the necessary legal documents that will be used to back up the claim. All I require from you is your honest co-operation to enable us see this arrangement through.

I guarantee that this arrangement will be executed under a legitimate banking procedure and the provision of the laws with regards to inheritance will be strictly adhered to, this will protect you from any breach of the law.



Lastly you can read through



http://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Cronache/2006/08_Agosto/07/piroddi.shtml

Take sometime to go through the site.



Truly Yours



Giancarlo Piroddi



Alternative e mail: giancarlo.piroddi_esq@gala.net



Telephone: +44 702 409 3881

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam