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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:
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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:
  • "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.
  • ken_lee2005@koreanmail.com
  • ken_lee2005@post.cz

Fraud email example:

From: "Ken Lee" <ken_lee01@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: ken_lee2005@koreanmail.com
Date: Thu, 02 Feb 2006 02:37:14 +0000
Subject: Kind attention to Lange's family.

Kind attention to Lange's family.

My name is Mr. Ken Lee. I work with (FNBK) here in South Korea as an
accountant, also the personal account officer to late Mr. George Lange. In
the discharge of my duty, I stumbled on this domiciliary account that has
remained dormant for two years now with Fifteen million Dollars
(US$15.000.000.00) only in it. Since after his death, neither his family
members nor distant relatives have ever appeared to claim the said fund due
to unknown, unless someone like you apply for claims through the legal
process with evidence and proofs to the deceased as indicated in our banking
regulations and guidelines.

I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased hence
you bear same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to
you and then we share it. I am writing you so that we can work together in
remitting the money to you as the next of kin to the deceased. It is simple
process which will take a short while to process before the management will
confiscate the money as unclaimed and pay into our bank treasury
account if no one come for the claim on behalf of the deceased.

For us to proceed, furnish me immediately with the following personal
details:

1. Your full names
2. Your contact or mailing address
3. Your country of origin
4. Your private telephone number
5. Your age and occupation

As soon as I recieve these information, I will detail you all you need to
know and about your percentage share. Please contact me immediately as the
urgency demands.

Best Regards,

Mr. Ken Lee.
Emails : ken_lee2005@koreanmail.com
ken_lee2005@post.cz

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam