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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "search for a reliable person" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348033190830 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Desmond Tede" <desmondtede_stb@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: desmondtede_stb1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 22:23:04 +0000
Subject: THANKING YOU IN ANTICIPATION FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION ON THE SUBJECT MATTER.

HEADQUARTER,
STANDARD TRUST BANK PLC,
LAGOS, NIGERIA.

Phone: +234-803-3190830

Dear Friend,

First, I'm soliciting your utmost confidentiality in this Transaction. I am Mr. Desmond  Tede, Deputy Manager,Credit Controls of Standard Trust Bank (STB) Plc, Lagos Nigeria. I came to you know you in my private search for a reliable person to handle this confidential transaction, which involves huge sum of money to your country.

The Proposition: A foreigner an American, late Mr. Karl Karlsson(SNR)
Who died on February 4th, 2000 board Alaska Airlines Flight 261. Alongside 87 other passengers. Please view the website below for verification.
<http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/>
<http://www.nativefederation.org/history/people/kKarlsson.html>,
While returning to his country from a business trip. He Banked with us at Standard TrustBank Plc Lagos, and had a closing balance worth US$10.5, Million, having heard of the tragic incident involving late Mr. Karl Karlsson(SNR) the bank now Expects a next of kin as a beneficiary.

Valuable efforts have been made by Security and Investiment Bank to get in touch with any of his family's but I personally found out that he until his death neither had wife nor a child that is known to us.

Meanwhile this is the website of the people that died in the Alaska Airlines Flight 261, the only next of kin given to us by late Mr. Karl Karlsson unfortunately was with him in the same flight that crashed, and this is unknown to the bank. I'm taking this advantage in order to better my life and that of my family; I now decided to seek your permission to have you stand as the next of kin to late Mr. Karl Karlsson , so that the fund (US$10.5M) will be released into your account as the next of kin.All documents and proofs to enable you get this fund will be carefully worked out, by the lawyer that I will employ to work with me down here on your behalf. I am assuring you that this transaction and its procedures is 100% legal and risk free involvement.

Your share stays while the rest will be for me. The sharing of the fund
between the two of us will be as follows: 30% of the total sum will go to you for your effort and commitment to the success of this transaction. 65% will be for us here.

While 5% as been set aside for expenses incurred in due process of this transaction. As soon as I receive an acknowledgement of the receipt of this message in Acceptance, I will immediately start up with the process. If this proposal is acceptable by you, kindly forward to me your private telephone/fax or preferably your mobile numbers, address and
banking informations and I will have to apply for the release and
subsequent Transfer of the fund in your favor.

I await your urgent response and note that you are the only person
I have contacted for now and any delay will make me to contact
another person for the same transaction.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Desmond Tede..

(Deputy Manager Credit Control , STB PLC (Nigeria)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam