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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:

• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • 00447040103703

Fraud email example:

From: Michael Goodwood <mgoodwood@sify.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 22:37:01 -0800
Subject: Greetings from Isle of Man


Greetings from Isle of Man.

My name is Michael Goodwood. I am the Group Head, Audit Committee of a Financial Trust Group with Head Offices at Ramsey, Isle of Man. I am contacting you in a non-official capacity and therefore require your utmost confidentiality.

The purpose of my writing to you is because I am searching for a foreign business partner who is in a position to assist me with an urgent business proposal, as time is not on my side. A partner, who understands what confidentiality means and who has the necessary facilities required in embarking on this important venture.

We had a client who deposited a huge sum of money with one of our branches in Europe, who later died as a result of a car crash in Valencia in November, 2001. The client died intestate and nominated no successor in title over the investments made with the Financial Trust Group. Since the death of this client, I personally have watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of €25 Million Euros deposited with the Financial Trust Group in 2000. This client shares the same surname with you. It is for this reason that I am contacting you.

In accordance with the European Trust and Federal Laws, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, his investments with Financial Trust Group shall revert to ownership of the government of the country of the said investments if nobody applies as the next of kin to claim the investments.

Since you share the same surname with this client, I want to present you to stand in as the next of kin so that you and I can benefit from this investment equally (i.e. 50% for you and 50% for me). I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of the law, as I will use my position to secure approvals and guarantee the successful execution of this transaction.

If this proposal is acceptable to you, kindly indicate your full names, your private telephone, fax numbers and location where the money will be remitted. I will instruct you on the next step to take.

I look forward to your earliest response.

With warm greetings,

Michael Goodwood
Ridgeway Street
IM99 1BU Ramsey
Isle of Man
Tel: 0044-704-010-3703
Fax: 0044-870-133-4013

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam