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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: CLYDESDALE BANK PLC SCOTLAND <ken_terry9@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <ken_terry111@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 03:35:41 -0600
Subject: Lets Work Together




KEN TERRYACCOUNTING OFFICERCLYDESDALE BANK PLC.30 ST VINCENT PLACEGLASGOW G1 2HLSCOTLAND.




Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Mr Ken Terry, the Account officer with CLYDESDALE BANK PLC.SCOTLAND UNITED KINGDOM.

I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On January 3, 2003, a United Arab Emirates Merchant, Mr.Abraham Zachary, made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$25,000,000.00 (Twenthy five Million Dollars only) with my bank.

Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After some months, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his business partner that Mr.Abraham Zachary died from an automobile accident while on a business trip.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.Abraham Zachary did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank.

The said amount is still intact 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, I am contacting you since you are a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to Mr Abraham Zachary.

I would want you to provide to send to me as a matter of urgency your full

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam