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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • zhan2li@netscape.net (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Zhanzhi li" <zhan2l@netscape.net>
Reply-To: zhan2li@netscape.net
Date: Fri, 05 May 2006 12:17:18 +0200
Subject: Awaiting your urgent reply {Mr. Zhanzhi }


MR. ZHANZHI HONG
HANG SENG BANK LTD.
DES VOEUX RD. BRANCH,
CENTRAL HONG KONG,
HONK KONG.
Let me start by introducing myself. I am Mr. Zhanzhi Hong credit
officer of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd. I have an urgent and very
confidential business proposition for you.I honestly apologize and hope
I do not cause you any embarrassment by contacting you through this
means for a transaction of this magnitude, but this is due to
confidentiality and prompt access reposed on this medium, sorry my
English is not very good.
Furthermore, due to this issue on my hands now, it became necessary
for
me to seek your assistance, and it is imperative for me to know your
opinion.
On April 6, 1999, an American Oil consultant/contractor with the
Chinese Petroleum and Chemical operation Mr. Richard Nault made a
numbered time (Fixed Deposit) for twelve calendar months, the value of
the funds will not disclose at the moment, until I receive your
response.
Upon maturity of the funds, I sent a routine notification to his
forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder
and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the Hong Kong
Petroleum and Chemical Corporation that Mr. Richard Nault died from an
automobile accident.
On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a
WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I
therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Richard
Nault did not declare any kin or relations in all his official
documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank.
This funds is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being
rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will
ever come forward to claim it. According to Laws of Hong Kong, at the
expiration of 5(five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of
the Hong Kong Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to
stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Richard Nault so that the fruits
of
this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt
Government officials.
This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full
names
and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents
and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin.
We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and
notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and
letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer.
The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio
of 60% for me and 35% for you and 5% for Expenses Incurred in the
course of the transaction. There is no risk at all as the attorney will
do all the paperwork for this transaction and with my position as the
credit officer guarantees the successful execution of this
transaction.
If you are really interested in doing this business with me please
reply immediately to this email address:zhan2li@netscape.net .Upon
your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant
documents that will help you understand the transaction. You should
observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction
would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your
assistance to invest my share in
your country.
Awaiting your urgent reply.
Thanks and regards.
Mr. Zhanzhi Hong
Email: zhan2li@netscape.net

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam