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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (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.

Fraud email example:

From: "Rita Newman" <contactritanewman@msn.com>
Reply-To: mrs_rita_newman1@yahoo.dk
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2006 08:37:16 +0000
Subject: A HUMBLE REQUEST

Dear Friend,
I am Mrs Rita Newman, the personal accounting officer to Late Mr.David
Rowe,a Native of your country,and the C.E.O(chief executive officer) of
Atlas Dreging company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my
client.My client lost his life alongside his wife and only child on
Sunday, 2 February, 2003, Details of this incidence can be checked on
the following
website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2718295.stm
After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his
surname over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I
contacted you.
I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the money and property
left behind by our customer before they get confisicated or declared
unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.The bank
where the deceased had an account valued at about 19.5million dollars
has issued me a notice as his accounting officer to provide the next of
kin or have the account confisicated within the next ten official
working
days.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2
years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of
kin/relative to my deceased client so that the proceeds of this account
valued at US$19.5 Million can be paid to you and then you and I can
share the money as follows,60% shall be for me, while 40% of the funds
shall be retained by you.
However, Upon release of the funds to you,My own share shall be held in
trust for me pending when i come over to your country for the
disbursement of the funds stated above.
I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to butress any
claim that will ensure that the funds are released to you by the Bank.
Therefore,All I require is absolute trust and your honest cooperation to
enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of
the law.
Please get in touch with me immediately as I do not have much time at my
disposal.

Best Regards,
Mrs Rita Newman

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam