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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • s_teveadams1@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Steve Adams" <steveadams50@msn.com>
Reply-To: s_teveadams1@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 10:32:10 +0000
Subject: business relationship dear Jan

Attention Dear friend,

I am Mr Steve Adams, from African Development Bank in the Republic of
Benin. During the course of our auditing we discovered the sum of
twelve million five hundred thousand united states dollars
(USD12.500.000.00) floating in an account opened in this Bank since
1997. between 2001 till date, nobody has operated this account, and
after going through some old records I discovered that the owner of the
account died without a next of kin in a plane mishap.

Upon verification, I found out that no other person knows about this
account except his wife who also died in the crash. and the account has
no other beneficiary. My investigation revealed that until his death,
he was the Director of GOLD ARK [SARL]. Since the bank got the
information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to
come forward and claim his money.

Base on this discovery, I and other officials in my department decided
to make this businness proposal to you and release the money to you as
the next of kin or relation to the deceased for safety and subsequent
disbursement since nobody is forth coming . When I recieve your
response on this mail, I will send to you the application form, bank's
contact and the next step to take. I will not fail to bring to your
notice that this business is hitch free and that you shouldn't
entertain any fear as all modalities for fund transfer can be finalized
within fourteen banking days, after your application to the bank as a
relation to the deceased has been approved.

It has been resolved that 30% will be for you while 10% has been maped
out to defray any expences that might arise during the process of the
transaction. Then 60% will be for me which shall be release only after
the funds must have been remitted into your bank account.

kindly send me an e-mail signifying your decision. Include your Private
Tel/Fax numbers.

Best Regards,

Mr Steve Adams
Reply To Alt/Email:s_teveadams1@yahoo.co.uk
Phone: 00229 95 06 78 88


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam