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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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• Spam archive, Daily index
  

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:
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million united states 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "attorneys " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +27739995874 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: Harry Devis <harrydevis9@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <harrydevis_1000@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:25:09 +0200
Subject: VERY CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL FOR YOU




FROM:THE COORDINATOR,DEBT RECOVERY AND RECONCILIATIONUNIT. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF AUDITOR,14TH FLOOR, EMBASSY BUILDING CNR SMITH ALIWAL STREET,ALBERTON BRANCH JOHANNESBURG 2000 SOUTH AFRICA.MOBILE:+27 73 999 5874
TEL/FAX: +27-11-507-6429 ATT: TO SIR/MADAM. I KNOW THIS MASSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE SINCE WE DON'T KNOW EACH OTHER BEFORE,BUT FOR PURPOSE OF INTRODUCTION.I AM MR.HARRY DEVIS THE CHIEF AUDITOR OF ONE OF THE LEADING BANKS IN SOUTH AFRICA,I GOT YOUR CONTACT FROM YOUR COUNTRY'S WEBSITE IN SEARCH OF A RELIABLE PEASON THAT CAN HANDLE SUCH HUG OF AMOUNT .ALTHOUGH THE DETAILS OF MY INTENTION WAS NOT MADE KNOWN TO THEM.ACTUALLY,I LISTED YOUR NAME AMONGST FOUR OTHER NAMES & PRAYED OVER THEM & DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU DIRECTLY. I HAVE A VERY URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL BUSSINESS PROPOSAL FOR YOU, & IT IS FOR OUR OVERALL MUTUAL INTEREST. ON NOVEMBER 6 2001, AN AMERICAN OIL CONSULTANT/CONTRACTOR WITH THE ANGLO AMERICAN GOLD CORPORATION MR BARRY KELLY MADE A NUMBERED TIME(FIXED) DEPOSIT FOR TWELVE CALENDAR MONTHS,VALUED AT USD$18,000,000.00(EIGHTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ) IN MY BRANCH.UPON MATURITY,I SENT A ROUTINE NOTIFICATION TO HIS FORWARDED ADDRESS BUT GOT NO REPLY.AFTER A MONTH WE SENT A REMINDER,& FINALLY WE DISCOVERED FROM HIS CONTRACT EMPLOYERS ANGLO AMERICAN GOLD, THAT MR.BARRY DIED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION,I FOUND OUT THAT HE DID NOT LEAVE A (WILL) & ALL ATTEMPTS TO TRACE HIS NEXT OF KIN WERE FRUITLESS.I THEREFORE MADE FURTHER INVESTIGATION & DISCOVERED THAT MR.BARRY DID NOT DECLARE ANY NEXT OF KIN IN ALL HIS OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS,INCLUDING HIS BANK DEPOSIT PAPERWORK.THIS SUM USD$18,000,000.00 IS STILL FLOATING IN SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK AND THE INTEREST IS BEING ROLLED OVER WITH THE PRINCIPAL SUM AT THE END OF EACH YEAR IF NO ONE WILL COME FORWARD TO CLAIM IT.ACCORDING TO SOUTH AFRICAN LAWS, AT THE EXPIRATION OF 6 (SIX) YEARS,THE MONEY WILL REVERT TO THE OWNERSHIP OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT IF NOBODY APPLIES TO CLAIM THE FUNDS. CONSEQUENTLY,MY PROPOSAL IS THAT I WILL LIKE YOU AS A FOREIGNER TO STAND IN AS A NEXT OF KIN OF MR BARRY KELLY.THIS IS SIMPLE.1)I WILL WANT YOU TO PROVIDE ME IMMEDIATELY WITH YOUR FULL NAMES & ADDRESS SO THAT MY PRIVATE ATTORNEY WILL PREPARE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS & AFFIDAVITS,WHICH WILL PUT YOU AS NEXT OF KIN.2)WE SHALL EMPLOY THE SERVICES OF AN ATTORNEYS FOR DRAFTING & NOTARIZATION OF THE WILL AND OBTAIN THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND LETTER OF ROBATE/ADMINISTRATION IN YOUR FAVOUR FOR THE TRANSFER.3)FORWARD TO ME YOUR BANK DETAILS ,WHICH YOU WILL PROVIDE TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF THIS MONEY TO YOU AS THE BENEFICIARY.THE MONEY WILL BE PAID INTO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR US TO SHARE IN THE RATIO OF 60% FOR ME AND 30% FOR YOUR RULE IN THIS TRANSACTION AND THE REMAINING 10% WILL BE FOR EXPENCES BOTH PATIES MIGHT INCCURED DURING THE TIME OF TRANSFERRING THE FUND IN YOUR ACCOUNT.THERE IS NO RISK AT ALL AS THE ATTORNEY ASSISTED WITH MY POSITION, WILL DO THE PAPERWORK FOR THIS TRANSACTION AS THE BRANCH MANAGER GUARANTEES THE SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF THIS TRANSACTION.

AM ONLY CANTACTING YOU AS A FORIEGNER BECAUSE THIS MONEY CANNOT BE APPROVED TO A LOCAL BANK HERE, BUT CAN BE APPROVED TO ANY FOREIGN ACCOUNT BECAUSE THE MONEY IS IN US DOLLARS AND THE FORMER OWNER OF THE ACCOUNT MR. BARRY KELLY IS A FOREIGNER TOO, I KNOW THIS MASSAGE WILL COME TO YOU AS A SURPRISE AS WE DON’T KNOW OURSELVES BEFORE, WE WILL SIGN AN AGREEMENT, BUT BE REST ASURE THAT IT IS REAL AND A GENUINE BUSINESS.IF YOU ARE INTERESTED,PLEASE REPLY IMMEDIATELY AND ALSO SEND TO ME YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND FAX NUMBER. UPON YOUR RESPONSE,I SHALL THEN PROVIDE YOU WITH MORE DETAILS AND RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND.PLEASE OBSERVE UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY,AND BE REST ASSURED THAT THIS WOULD BE MOST PROFITABLE FOR BOTH OF US BECAUSE I SHALL REQUIRE YOUR ASSISTANCE TO INVEST MY SHARE IN YOUR COUNTRY.AWAITING FOR YOUR URGENT REPLY VIA THIS EMAIL ABOVE,PLEASE SAVE ME THE ANXIETY OF ENDLESS WAITING.GOD BLESS YOU. DONT HESITATE TO REACH ME, THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESSMR.HARRY DEVIS ,
(CHIEF AUDITOR)MOBILE:+27 73 999 5874
TEL/FAX: +27-11-507-6429
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam