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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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • johnchoelee_consulting@138mail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Lee" <johnleeconsulting@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: johnchoelee_consulting@138mail.com
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2006 19:52:03 +0000
Subject: PRIVATE AND URGENT (INHERITANCE CLAIM)

Mr.John Choe Lee
Republic of Korea
Alternative email address:johnchoelee_consulting@138mail.com


Attention Please,

PRIVATE AND URGENT

My name is Mr.John Choe Lee, I am a credit manager with (FNBK) here in South
Korea. I am contacting you over a business transfer of a huge sum of money
from a deceased account. Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude
will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that
everything has been taken care off, and all will be well at the end of the
day. I decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction.

I am also the personal account officer to Mr.George Hoang. In the discharge
of my duty, I stumbled on his domiciliary account that has remained dormant
for two years now with Fifteen million Dollars (US$15.000.000.00) in it,
Since after his death, neither his family members nor distant relatives have
been located to claim this said fund.

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, I 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 me for the funds ($15,000,000.00) Fifeteen Million Dollars to be released
in your favour as the beneficiary's next of kin.I secured every legal
document from the judiciary to present the beneficiary.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual
business endeavour by furnishing me with the following information if you
are interested.

(1)YOUR FULL NAMES (2)YOUR NATIONALITY (3)YOUR OCCUPATION
(4)YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS (5)YOUR TEL/FAX NUMBERS
(6)YOUR AGE/MARITAL STATUS

You shall be recieving 35% on final conclusion of this claim for your
assistance,15% shall be for charity, while the balance 50% shall be for me
and my partner. If this proposal is acceptable by you, please end endeavour
to contact me immediately. Do not take undue advantage of the trust I have
bestowed on you.


I await your urgent response.


Best Regards,
Mr.John Choe Lee.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam