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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "30% for you " (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • faramarkgbk@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "faramark01" <faramark01@terra.com.mx>
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 09:23:06 -0600
Subject: I NEED YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE


xFrom: The Desk Of Mr. Fara Mark
Auditing And Accounting Unit.
ACB International Bank Plc.
106/108 Broad Street Lagos Island, Lagos
Nigeria.
Dear Sir/Madam,
How is life generally with you? Of course it is my humble wish to
solicit and crave your indulgence to make this project request for a
joint business transaction, which I hope, will come to you as a surprise hence I plead for your understanding.
I am Mr. Fara Mark, in Auditing and Accounting Unit, Foreign Operation
department ACB International Bank Plc Lagos, and I have an urgent and
confidential business proposal.On April 21st, 2001, Engr. STEVE MOORE,
made a (fixed) Deposit of US$15.500.000.00 (fifteen million five
hundred thousand US dollars) in my branch, On maturity, I sent a
routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply, after
months we sent a reminder and finally discovered from his employee,
EMPIRE CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION LTD (ECC) that Engr. Steve MOORE died
in an automobile accident.On further investigation it was clear that he
died without making a will.All attempt to trace his next of kin were
fruitless. I therefore made further enquiries and discovered that late
Engr. Steve MOORE did not declare any next of kin or relations in all
his official documents including his deposit documents in my bank. The
total sum of US$15.5m is still in the bank as dormant account; no one
will ever come forward to claim it.According to Nigeria banking law,
after five years the money will revert into the account of Nigeria
government. That is, if the account owner is certified dead and nobody
come forward to claim it.
This is the situation, and my proposal is that I need a reliable person
like your good self, who will stand in as the beneficiary/next of kin.
All I need is a trustworthy, faithful and honest partner to execute
this transaction;the money will be shared in this ratio, 30% for you and 70% for me.
There is no risk involved. I am using my position and my connection in
the bank here to do all the documents work for the smooth remittance of the money into your nominated account.We shall employ the service of a
registered attorney to obtain all the necessary documents including letter of administration in your favour.
As soon as I get your response and assurance of confidentiality in this
transaction I will immediately start remittance processes that will
enable you receive this fund in your account within 10 banking days.
I wait your urgent reply via my private e-mail
address::faramarkgbk@yahoo.com
Best regards
Mr. Fara Mark

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam