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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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:
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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)
  • "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 united state 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)
  • "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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: Sani bello <bsani_bello2@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: sani.bello2k11@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:37:09 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Dear Friend, Kindly Reply urgently for us to proceed


Dear Friend,
 
I am highly esteemed to write you this very urgent letter. I am Barrister Sani Bello, a Solicitor and Personal Attorney to late Douglas , a national of your country,who before his death was a contractor, July 2nd 1998 my client and his wife were involved In car accident along Lincolns Inn Fields Express Road London. Unfortunately they lost their lives. Since then I as the Personal Attorney of the Deceased had made several inquiries to locate any of my clients extended relative but this has proved unsuccessful.
 
I decided to trace his last name over the Internet, to GET ANY ONE THAT BEARS THE SAME SURNAME WHO WOULD STAND IN AS THE COUSIN TO MY LATE CLIENT, TO CLAIM THE MONEY the Deceased had an Account valued at about $23M {Twenty Three Million United State Dollars}. Hence, I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money into your account in your country, before the account is confiscated or converted by the UNITY TRUST BANK OF LONDON ENGLAND, where this huge deposits valued at 23 million US Dollars. I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since nobody shows up, so that the proceeds of this account will be paid to you, then, you and I can share the money, 60% to me and 40% to you.
 
The money will be paid to you provided you are ready to co-operate with me. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through and please do include your full name and address,telephone & fax number so as to send every vital documents which will be secured to back up this claim. I will like to communicate with you on your private telephone number. You will send me a letter of invitation immediately the money get to your account. I expect your urgent response.
 
Best regards,
Barrister Sani Bello.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam