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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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• 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:
  • "million 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)
  • "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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • michellafont2003@yahoo.it

Fraud email example:

From: "Michell Lafont" <mcl@net.net> (may be fake)
Reply-To: michellafont2003@yahoo.it
Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 00:07:44 +0000
Subject: Bank(Pls treat as urgent)

From: Mr. Michel Lafont
Regional General Manager
Banque Internationale pour Commerce et L'Industrie
( www.bicici.org ) BICICI BANK.

Subject: Transfer of U.S$7.2Million ( Seven Million Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only)

Dear confidant,

I am writing you following the information I got on the internet about
the investment prospects in your country. I am Mr. Michel Lafont, I am the
Regional General Manager and heads the Foreign Operations Department of
Banque Internationale pour Commerce et L'Industrie (BICICI BANK).

During auditing I discovered a sum of $7.2Million US dollars in dormant
account that belongs to a foreign customer Mr. Andrew Beasley who died in a plane crash in France. Since past three years I personally confirmed Mr. Beasley's death, nobody has applied for claims as next of kin or relation to the deceased as stipulated in our banking guidelines.

It is therefore upon this discovery that I am making this business
proposal to you, to release the funds to you as the next of kin to our
deceased client Mr. Andrew Beasley for subsequent disbursement
between us since nobody will come for it and I do not want this money
to go into the Bank treasury as unclaimed Bill.

On confirmation of these funds U.S$7.2Million into your designated
bank account, I will come to your country to meet with you for immediate
disbursement of the funds between both of us, 70% of the total funds
will be released to me on my arrival to your country, your share will be 30%. Immediately I receive your reply, I will advise you subsequently for the immediate take-off of the transfer of these funds to your designated bank account. Endeavor to send to me your private telephone and fax numbers to enable us open-up proper and secured communication immediately.

I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is risk-free
because we are transfering these funds legally and considering also my
position in the bank you should not entertain any atom of fear as all
required arrangements will be perfected for the transfer which will take only three bank working days upon your submission of an application letter of claim. You should contact me immediately as soon as you receive this mail through my private mailbox. Mail to; ( michellafont2003@yahoo.it )

Best regards,

Mr. Michel Lafont

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam