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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
  (+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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: genesis samuel <genesissamuel001@myway.com>
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 11:01:47 +0000
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF DR GENESIS SAMUEL.




>FROM THE DESK OF DR GENESIS SAMUEL,BILLS AND EXCHANGE MANAGER,BANK OF AFRI=
CA (B.O.A)OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO. Dear Friend,I am the manager of bill an=
d exchange at the foreign remittance department of BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A) h=
ere in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. In my department we discovered an abandon=
ed sum of US$30m dollars (THIRTY Million US dollars) in an account that bel=
ongs to one of our foreigncustomer (MR. ANDREAS SCHRANNER from Munich, Germ=
any) who died along with his entire family in Jully 2000 in a plane crash. =
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm Since we got information=
about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to come over and c=
laim his money because we cannot release it, unless some body applies for t=
he next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our bankingguidl=
ings and laws but unfortunately we learnt that his next of kin died alo=
ng with him in the plane crash.The banker law and guidline here need a res=
ponsable person,and who the bank can introssted this treasury as unclaimed=
fund. The request of foreigner as next of kin in this business is occassio=
ned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and a Burkinabe cannot st=
and as next of kin to a foreigner. I agree that 30% of this money will be f=
or you as a respect to the provision of a foriegn account , 10% will be set=
aside for expenses incurred during the business and 60% would be for me Th=
ereafter, I will visit your country for disbursement according to the perce=
ntage indicated Therefore, to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to=
you arranged,you must apply first to the bank as relation or next of kin o=
f the deceased indicating your bank name, your bank account number, your pr=
ivate telephone and fax number for easy and effective communication and loc=
ation where in the money will be remitted. Upon receipt of your reply, I wi=
ll send to you by fax or email the text of the application . I will not fai=
l to bring to your notice this transaction is hitch-free and that you shoul=
d not entertain any atom of fear as all required arrangements have been mad=
e for the transfer. You should contact me immediately as soon as you receiv=
e this letter.Trusting to hear from you immediately.Yours Faithfully,DR GE=
NESIS SAMUEL.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam