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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
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Arif Shaikh" <arif_shaikh@mail2world.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: arif_shaikh1@gawab.com
Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2006 20:15:39 +0400
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS NEEDED

Hello,

My name is Mr. Arif Shaikh, a banker here in U. A. E. I write you this
proposal in good faith as a brother, believing that you will not betray
me regarding the information I am about to reveal to you. In 2003 a
Crude Oil dealer Late Mr. HUSIN BIN HUSAIN, made a (Fixed deposit) for
60 calendar months, valued at US$17,500,000.00 (Seventeen Million, Five
hundred Thousand US Dollars) with my bank. I was his account officer
before I rose to my present position. The maturity date for this deposit
contract was 17th of June 2006. I have tried my possible best to locate
Mr. Husain to notify him about this, but all my efforts proved abortive.
I later discovered that Mr. Husain, his wife and only daughter were among
the victims of bomb blast during the war in Lebanon. Unfortunately, he has
no other living relatives to inherit this fund.

Now, a new Financial Law, which takes effect in two month’s time,
stipulates that any bank account more than $5,000,000.00 [Five Million US
Dollars] will be investigated and the bank shall produce the account owner
for clearance. This is a Government measure to check money laundering. If I
do not find a way to move this money out of the country immediately, in two
month’s time, it might be reverted to Government treasury because the bank
management cannot provide Mr. Husain since he is now late. I am seeking
your co-operation to present you as the next of kin to the account, so that
my bank head quarters will release the funds to you as his next of kin.
There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. Let me
know how much percent you will take, so that both parties will be satisfied.
Contact me as soon as you receive this message for further details.

Please, treat as top secret; I am the only person having this
information.

Regards,

Arif.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam