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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:
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "million us dollars" (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)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "cheques " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Thomas Goodwill" <gt182708@scarlet.be>
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 18:03:38 +0200
Subject: Your Reply Means Alot....


THOMAS GOODWILL,
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING SECTION,
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT,
INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC.

Good Day,

I am THOMAS GOODWILL; I am an Accountant with INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC. I am the personal Account Manager to a citizen of your country Mr.MICHAEL, who used to work with the Shell Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria. On April 21, 2001, Engr.MICHAEL (hereafter referred to as my client), his wife, and their three children were involved in a car crash. A occupants of the car unfortunately lost their lives. Since then I have made several inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my client's extended family, but my efforts so far have been unsuccessful. After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged, particularly the INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC, Where the deceased had an account Valued at about ($15.435 million US Dollars).

The INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account reverted to Bank ownership within the next twenty official working days, this is in line with Nigeria's Banking Laws and the Rules governing the Banking and Finance Sectors which stipulate that if after a period of thirty-six months there is no claimant or next of kin presented for the funds of a deceased account holder, ownership of such funds revert to the Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for almost three years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that this account valued at ($15.435 million USD) can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money. All the necessary documents concerning this claim are with the Bank's legal department. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me by replying my email as soon as possible, as I have just twenty working days in which to lodge a claim for the funds on behalf of my client's next of kin. You could include your phone number if you prefer oral communication.

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.

Best regards,
THOMAS GOODWILL.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam