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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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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)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "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)
  • "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: teddybrown000143@yahoo.it
Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 02:19:15 +0200
Subject: CONTACT ME

>From The Desk Of Mr.Teddy Brown ,
Branch Manager Orient Bank (Nig) Plc

Dear Friend,

I am the Branch Manager Orient Bank ( Nig ) Plc, ( LATE Engr , Barry Louis) a National of your country, who is a
contractor with the DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS. Here in shall be referred to as my client
On 5th JUNE 2002, my client, his wife, and their three children were involved in AUTO-MOBILE CRASH along Lagos to Abuja
express way and all family died in this fatal AUTO-MOBILE crash on 5th JUNE 2004 Since then I have made several
inquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended Relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name Or Midle Name over the Internet, to locate
any member of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property
left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared no serviceable by the bank where these huge deposits
were lodged, particularly the Orient Bank (Nig) PLC. Where the deceased had an account Valued at about ($38.6 million u
s dollars) has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin. Or have the account confiscated within the next ten
official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the
next of kin of the deceased since you have the same First,Midle or last name so that the proceeds of this account valued
at ($38.6 million US Dollars) can be paid to you and then you and me Can share the money.50% to me and 50% to you we
might incur in this transaction an attorney will be contracted to help us revalidate and notarize all the necessary
legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND HENCEFORTH KINDLY SEND YOUR

( 1 ) YOUR DIRECT CELL PHONE & FAX NUMBER.

( 2 ) YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS .

All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through I guarantee that this will be executed under
a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of the .please treat this letter with strick
confidentiality and urgency.



Thanks Mr.Teddy Brown

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam