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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • ",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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "top secret" (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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <khan.zafarhabib@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:47:16 +0000
Subject: Your Reply Is Urgently Needed!!





Greetings,

This letter must come to you as a big surprise, but I believe it is
only a day that people meet and become great friends and business
partners. I am Zafar Habib Khan, Chief Investment Officer with a
reputable bank here in U. A. E. I write you this proposal in good
faith, believing that I can trust you with the information I am about
to reveal to you.

I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.
On March 15, 2004, an Iraqi Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with
the CHEVRON PETROLEUM CORPORATION, Mohammed Bin Al Farouk
made a had a fixed deposit with my bank in 2004 for 36 calendar months,
valued at US$17,500,000.00 (Seveteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand
US Dollars) the mature date for this deposit contract was this 14 of March
2007. Sadly he was among the death
victims in the May 26 2006 Earthquake
disaster in Jawa, Indonesia that killed over 5,000 people. He was in
Indonesia on a business trip and that was how he met his end. My bank
management is yet to know about his death, I knew about it because he
was my friend and I am his account officer. Mohammed did not mention any
Next of Kin/Heir when the account was opened, and he was not married
and no children. Last week my Bank Management requested that i should
give instructions on what to do about his funds as his account officer,
if to renew the contract.

I know this will happen and that is why I have been looking for a
means to handle the situation, because if my Bank Directors happens to
know that Mohammed is dead and do not have any Heir, they will take the
funds for their personal use, so I don't want such to happen. That is
why I am now seeking your co-operation to present you as Next of
Kin/ Heir to
the account and my bank headquarters will release the
account to you. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of law.

It is better that we claim the money, than allowing the Bank Directors
to take it, they are rich already. I am not a greedy person, so I am
suggesting we share the funds equal, 50/50% to both parties, my share
will assist me to start my own company which has been my dream. Let me
know your mind on this and please do treat this information as TOP
SECRET. We shall go over the details once I receive your urgent
response. Have a nice day and God bless.

Anticipating your communication.


Regards,

Zafar Habib Khan.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam