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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
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.
  • mrdavid_smith05@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "David Smith" <david_smith10@msn.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2006 17:33:54 +0000
Subject: Urgent Assistance Required.

FROM THE DESK OF THE CHIEF ACCOUNTANT,
STANDARD TRUST BANK(NIG)PLC,
5 TINUNBU STREET,V/ISLAND.
LAGOS-NIGERIA.

Dear Friend,

Urgent Assistance Required.

My name is Mr David Smith.I am the chief Accountant with standard trust bank
(Nig)Plc here in Nigeria. I would want to use thismedium after going through
your profile to seek for assistance in a business transaction which is of
mutual benefit. A foreigner late Mr.David McGrath who is from United State,
an Oil merchant/Contractor with the Federal Government of Nigeria, until his
death in a ship mishap on the 2nd of May 1999, who banked with us at our
Bank and had a closing balance of US$21.5 million ,which the bank now expect
any of his available next of kin to claim.

To this regards, I have been directed by the board of Trustees of the bank
to notify the diseased next of kin, which I have done and found out that he
has no next of kin, which means that this funds will be lost to the
government,which we all know will be stolen. In order to avert this
development, myself and some of my trusted colleagues in the bank now seek
your indulgence to have you stand as late Mr. David McGraths next of kin so
that the fund will be subsequently transferred and paid into your foreign
account.

On indicating your interest, all documents and proofs to enable you get this
funds will be carefully worked out and we are assuring you a 100% risk free
transaction. You will be allowed to retain 30% of the total amount after the
transaction. If this proposal is okay by you, and you wish to take advantage
of the trust bestowed on you mail me as soon as possible to enable me
furnish you with relevant details to this transaction.

Note: This transaction will only last us 10 working days.

You are expected to forward to me Your:
1) Full Names
2) Contact Address
3) Occupation
4) Age
5) Personal phone/ Fax number of easy communication.

Kindly contact me through this mail: (mrdavid_smith05@yahoo.co.uk)

Best regards,

Mr David Smith.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam