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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • patcheng2k3@yahoo.com.hk

Fraud email example:

From: "peter cheng" <petycheng@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: patcheng2k3@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 03:05:57 +0000
Subject: PLEASE REPLY URGENTLY

,ATTENTION
FROM THE DESK OF:
CREDIT OFFICER
HANG SENG BANK LTD.
DES VOEUX RD.BRANCH
CENTRAL HONG KONG
HONG KONG.
You have been contacted by us (HANG SENG BANK LTD) as regards
asisting in the
transfer out from our bank the said funds of US$68,000,000.00 , sixty-eight
Million United states dollars that has been unclaimed , as we found out that
the owner .Before the U.S and Iraqi war, our client General.Hassan Fazi who
was with the Iraqi forces and also business man made a numbered fixed
deposit,for 18 calendar
months with a value of sixty-eight Million United State Dollars only in my
branch. On further investigation,We later found out that the General and his
family had been killed during the war in a bomb blast that hit their home.I
found out that he died without making a will, and all attempts to trace
his next of kin was fruitless.
If you reply this email indicating your interest all that is
required from you at this stage is for you to provide me with your Full
Names and Address so that an attorney can commence his job.After you have
been made the next of kin,the attorney will also fill in,for claims on your
behalf and secure the necessary approval and letter of probate in your favor
for the swift transfer of the funds to an account that will be provided by
you. and with my position as the credit officer guarantees the successful
execution of this transaction. Once the funds have been transferred to your
nominated bank account,we shall share in the ratio of 70% for me, 25% for
you and 5%for any expenses incurred during the course of this operation.
Should you be interested please send me your private phone and
fax numbers for easy communication,you can write me via my private box,and
rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of
us.
Waiting for your urgent reply
MR.PETER CHENG
HANG SENG BANK LTD.
DES VOEUX RD.BRANCH
CENTRAL HONG KONG
HONG KONG.
Tel No: 852 30 77 87 14.
private email :patcheng2k3@yahoo.com.hk

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam