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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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• 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:
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "await your urgent response" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Kenneth Thomas" <kennythomas01@msn.com>
Reply-To: kennythomas01@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2006 16:01:43 +0000
Subject: I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE



From: Mr. Ken Thomas.
Bills & Exchange Department
Standard Trust Bank Plc.

Dear Friend,
I am contacting you in regards to a business transfer of a huge sum of money
from a deceased customer's account who On the 25th of July 2000, he
deceased, his wife and their two Children died in the Air France concord
plane crash bound for New York in their plan for a world cruise.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

Although I know that a transaction of this magnitude might make anyone
apprehensive,I would like to assure you that we are sending you this mail
with the best of intensions.

PROPOSAL;
Since then We have been trying to get this funds out of the bank, the sum of
US$6,450, 000.00 (Six Million,Four Hundred and fifty Thousand United States
Dollars) in an account that belongs to our foreign customers who died along
with his entire family in the above accident stated above.

Since his death, none of his next-of-kin or relations has come forward to
lay claims to this money as the heir. We cannot release the fund from his
account unless someone applies for claim as the next-of-kin to the deceased
as indicated in our banking guidelines.

Upon this discovery, we now seek your permission to have you stand as a next
of kin to the deceased as all documentations will be carefully worked out by
us for the funds (US$6,450,000.00) to be released in your favour as the
beneficiary's next of kin.

We shall be compensating you with One Million United State Dollars
(US$1,000,000.00) on final conclusion of this project, while the rest shall
be for us.

Your share stays with you while the rest shall be for us for investment
purposes in your country.
If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue advantage of the
trust we have bestowed in you but if not please disregard.

I await your urgent response.

Regards,

Mr. Ken Thomas.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam