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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "lome togo" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: Abu Zamil <abuzamil19@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:46:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: From the desk of Dr Abu Zamil.

From the desk of Dr Abu Zamil.
Auditting Department,
Africa Development Bank.
Lome Togo.
&nbsp;
Dear Friend,&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
I have a proposal for you - this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will. I am 50, and work with a bank (one of the African leading banks in the West Coast).
&nbsp;
Here in this bank existed a dormant account for the past years which belonged to Raymond Beet an American nationality,who is now late.
&nbsp;
When I discovered that there had been neither deposits nor withdrawals from this account for this long period,I decided to carry out a system investigation and discovered that none of the family members or relatives of the late person is aware of this account.
This is the story in a nutshell.
&nbsp;
Now I want an account overseas where the bank will transfer this funds.
Thereafter,I had planned to destroy all the related documents to this account. It is a careful network and for the past eleven months I have worked out everything to ensure a hitch-free operation.
The amount is not so much at the moment and plus all the accumulated interest the balance in this account stands at-(US$ 20.5 Million US Dollars).Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
&nbsp;
Now our questions are:-
&nbsp;
1. Can you handle this project?
2. Can I give you this trust?
3. What will be your commission? If you can sponsor this transfer.
4. Mail with phone &amp; fax numbers...........
&nbsp;
Consider this and get back at us as soon as possible. Finally, it is my humble prayer that the information as contained herein be accorded the necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy it deserves.
&nbsp;
I Expect your urgent response if you can handle this project.
&nbsp;
Respectfully yours,
Dr Abu Zamil.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam