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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • +34639446879 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • pherrera@iol.pt

Fraud email example:

From: "DOP"<treasure04chest@netscape.net>
Reply-To: pherrera@iol.pt
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 2005 06:50:18 -0800
Subject: VERY VERY URGENT

MR PATRICK HERRERA
CALLE ORTEGA 303,
28004,MADRID - SPAIN.
(THIS IS A LEGIT TRANSACTION AND I WILL BE LIABLE FOR ALL EXPENSES)

Dear Sir/Madam
I write to solicit your assistance in the
transfer of $5,500.000.00 us dollars. This fund is the
excess of what my branch in which I am the manager made
as profit during the last year. I have already submitted
an approved end of the Year report for the year 2004
to my Head Office here in Spain and they will never know
of this excess. I have since then, placed this amount of
$5,500.000.00 us dollars on a SUSPENSE ACCOUNT without a
beneficiary. As an officer of the bank, I cannot be
directly connected to this money thus I am impelled to
request for your assistance to receive this money into
any account of your choice. I intend to part 40% of this
fund to you while 60% shall be for me.
This is going to be a bank-to-bank transfer.
All I need from you is to stand as the original depositor
of this fund. If you accept this offer, I will
appreciate your timely response. Kindly furnish me with
your full details, in order to proceed immediately on the
transfer of the funds.


1,FULL NAME:
2,CONTACT PHONE NUMBER:
3,FAX NUMBER:
4,EMAIL:

In order to proceed on the transfer, you will also need
to agree with me that you will definitely assign my
percentage to me as soon as you receive the payment in
your account. I will also like you to acknowledge the
fact that you are not required to make any expenses
in this transaction. You can get intouch with me through
the below information.


NAME: MR PATRICK HERRERA
TELL: +34-639-446-879
EMAIL: pherrera@iol.pt


Best Regards
Patrick Herrera.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam