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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Maxwell Zoro <max.zoro78@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <maxwellzoro1111@yahoo.fr>
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:42:29 +0100
Subject: From Mr.Maxwell Zoro



>From Mr.Maxwell Zoro77 Rue109 Abidjan,Ivory Coast.
Dear Friend,
I beg your excuse for the inconveniences that this mail may cause to you.I am Mr.Maxwell Zoro,I work in the Accounts/Operations Department of a Prime banks here in Abidjan Ivory Coast.I actually have an urgent and very confidential business proposal for you.I got your contact from Internet and decided to contact you immediately.On October 25th 1998,An American Oil Consultant/ Contractor with the Societe Ivoirienne De Raffinage (SIR).Engr.Norman.R Edward,made a number time (fixed) deposits valued at US$16,500,000(Sixteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars)On investigation,it was discovered that Mr.Edward died along with his family in a plane crash.On further investigation,I discovered that Engr.Norman.R Edward did not leave a WILL and all attempts to trace his Next of Kin proved abortive.I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr.Edward did not declare any Next of Kin in all his official documents,including his Bank Deposit paper work.This sum of US$16,500,000 is still floating in the Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year.
For the past 5 to 6 years now,no one has ever come forward to claim the fund.According to the Ivoireinne Laws,at the expiration of 7(seven)years,the money will revert to the ownership of the Ivoireinne Government if nobody applies to claim the funds.That is what gave way to this deal.Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the Next of Kin to Engr.Norman.R Edward so that the fruits of this old man&apos;s labour will not get into the hands of some government officials.
To facilitate the transaction therefore:1.I would like you to provide me with a viable account details where this fund could be safely transferred into as Next of Kin of the former depositor..
2.We do not anticipate any risk/problem whatsoever, as all the loopholes has been taken care of and there is no risk involved in this deal.All the Computer work for this transaction will be done by me,including your name as the new Beneficiary of this fund.

You and I can share the money 50 / 50 after the transaction.If you are interested and capable of handling this deal,On receipt of your response, I shall then provide you with more details on how to go about it. Please note that this is very confidential.And as I am still a staff with the bank here.I would not like to be known or mentioned as having knowledge of the deal but I will be giving you inside information on what to do.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under all legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. In your reply mail, I want you to give me your full names, address, date of birth, telephone and fax numbers. If you can handle this with me, reach me now urgently with your requested informations.
Thanking you for your anticipated cooperation.
Mr.Maxwell Zoro.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam