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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:

• 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 send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
• 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.
  • +447035909633 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Julio Fernando"<Juliofernando@solicitors.org>
Reply-To: <jfernando@avasmail.com.mv>
Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 21:00:45 -0700
Subject: IMPORTANT PROPOSAL

My Dear One,

I am highly esteemed to write you this proposal; I am Julio Fernando a
solicitor and personal attorney to the above client of mine, A Petroleum Engineer
with Shell Oil. He died a few years ago and left me the responsibility of
locating and transferring $10.5million he left for his only son. Since then
I have made several inquiries to locate his son, only to realize that his
son died of drug abuse 2 years ago.

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 suspended indefinitely
within the next 21 official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in
locating any of the deceased's heirs over the years, I seek your consent to
present you as the next of kin to the deceased.

As the personal attorney to my deceased client, I have decided to contact
you to assist in transferring the money left behind by my client to your
bank account before they will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by
his bankers.

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 concerning inheritance fund will be strictly adhered to, this will
protect you from any breach of the law. You can get back to me with your
opinion so that I will inform you on what next to do.

Yours Sincerely,
Julio Fernando
Tel: + 44 (703) 590 9633
Fax: + 44 (700) 607 9379

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam