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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "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)
  • "00,000.00" (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))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Dr wood Melford" <dr.wood49@googlemail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:55:21 -0700
Subject: From the bank (Reply Immediately)


Reply Urgently:


I work with the City Finance, London, United Kingdom. In the discharge of my
duty, I stumbled on a domiciliary account that has remained dormant now with
eleven million dollars ($11,000,000.00) in it. On personal investigation, I
discovered that the account holder, died in auto crash accident with his
wife and only child who should be his next of kin.

The bank is about to confiscate this dormant account in accordance with the
banking policy here on any account that remain dormant here for 10 years but
it was assigned to me to search for the depositors extended relatives and
notify them to come for the money or forfeit it after the next board
meeting.

Considering the urgent situation and based on my search, I am writing to
you as the closest extended relative to the depositor to cooperate with me
to present you to the bank as the next of kin to the late depositor since
you shear the same last name and country with him. The bank will simply and
legitimately transfer the proceeds of the account to your local account
there. I assure you that every document to back you up for this claims are
in place hence you will not be exposed to any risk or breach of the law.

We will donate 20% of this money to charity organization, and shear the
balance 50:50 between you and me. Reply this email as soon as possible;
including your full name, address and telephone numbers and I will give you
more information and break down on the transaction.

This should be kept confidential, please reply to my secured private email
address:dr.woodmelford@ymail.com <address%3Adr.woodmelford@ymail.com>.

Best regards,
Dr.Melford wood.
Domiciliary Accounts Supervisor.
City Finance, London, UK.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam