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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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:

• 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:
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • richarddirkson@gawab.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.Richard Dirkson" <richarddirkson1@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: richarddirkson@gawab.com
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 18:45:06 -0600
Subject: FROM MR.RICHARD DIRKSON!

Dear friend,
  
  I am Mr.Richard Dirkson, Deputy General Manager in the Headquarter of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Ltd. Lagos Nigeria. I have an Urgent and confidential business proposal for you. On June 6, 2003, an Australian oil Consultant/contractor with The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC),Mr.Peter bush made a deposit for twelve calenderer Month valued at US$15,000.000.(fifteen million US dollars).
  
  On maturity, we sent a routine notification to his Forwarded address but got no reply after months we send a reminder and finally we discovered from his Contract employee (The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd) That Mr. peter bush died in plan crash accident. On further investigation, it was clear that he died without making a will. All attempts by the Australian to trace his next of kin were fruitless.
  
  I therefore made further investigation and discovered That Mr. Peter bush did not declare any next of kin or Relations in all his official documents including his Deposit document in my bank. The total sum US$15,000.000 is still in my bank as dormant Account. My proposal is that i am looking for a Foreigner who will stand as the beneficiary/next of Kin to late Mr. Peter bush. This is simple. All you Have to do is to immediately send me the details of your self, YOUR FULL NAME: YOUR HOME ADDRESS: DATE OF BIRTH(month,day,year): YOUR GENDER: NAME OF YOUR BANK: NAME OF YOUR STATE AND COUNTRY: ACCOUNT NUMBER#: TELEPHONE#: & FAX NUMBER#:
  
  The money will then be transferred into the account for us to share in the ration of 60% for me 30% for you while the remaining 10% will be set aside for Expenses incurred. We shall employ the services of an attorney to draft the will and obtain all necessary documents and letter of administration in your favors for the transfer. This transaction is risk free guaranteed. If you are Interested, please reply immediately. Confidentiality is of absolute priority to both Parties concerned.
 
For Confidential and easy Communocation,contact me directly via my email at [richarddirkson@gawab.com] I am awaiting your urgent reply.
  
  
  Best regards,
  MR.RICHARD DIRKSON (millennium success 100%)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam