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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "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.
  • +447035972109 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: Kevin Smith <ffrey22@msn.com>
Reply-To: <kksmith1972@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 20 May 2009 07:14:01 +0000
Subject: FAMILY TREE/





Ffrey & Co Chambers
Notary Public, Solicitors & Advocate
17 Glengall Bridge, London E14 9RE
United Kingdom
Tel: 44-703 597 2109
Fax: 44-870 135 1754

Dear Sir/Madam,

I Am Kevin Smith Esq., A Senior Advocate Here In U.K.
I Am The Personal Attorney To Engr. Robert Alvarez, A
National Of Your Country, Who Was Till His Death A
Contractor With Shell Petroleum Development Company
(SPDC)Here In U.K. Hereinafter Shall Be
Referred To As My Client.

On The 21st Of April 2005, My Client, His Wife And
Their Only Daughter Were Involved In A Fire Outbreak
In Their Residence. All The Family Members
Unfortunately Lost Their Lives. Since Then I Have Made
Several Inquiries To Your Embassy Here To Locate Any
Of My Clients Extended Relatives, This Has Also Proved
Unsuccessful.

I Have Contacted You To Assist In Repatriating The
Fund Valued At £10,500,000.00 (Ten Million Five
Hundred Thousand Pounds) Left Behind By My Client
Before It Gets Confiscated Or Declared Unserviceable
By The Finance Firm Where This Huge Amount Were
Deposited. The Said Finance Company Has Issued Me A
Notice To Provide The Next Of Kin Or Have The Account
Confiscated Within The Next Fourteen Official Working
Days. For The Fact That I Have Been Unsuccessful In
Locating The Relatives For Over 3 Years Now, I Seek
The Consent To Present You As The Next Of Kin To The
Deceased Since You Have The Same Nationality As Well As My Client
So That The Proceeds Of This Account Can Be Paid To You While
You Compensate Me In Return.

I Will Provide The Necessary Information And Legal Documents
Needed To Back You Up For The Claim. All I Require
>From You Is Your Honest Cooperation To Enable Us See
This Transaction Through. I Guarantee That This Will Be
Executed Under Legitimate Arrangement That Will
Protect You From Any Breach Of The Law Both In Your
Country And That Of The UK.

Your Call Is Expected To This Telephone
Number +44-703 597 2109 For More Details.

Best Regards,
Kevin Smith Esq

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam