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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "million 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "John Pradman" <jpradman@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 23:57:34 +0000
Subject: OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF CREDIT CONTROL

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF CREDIT CONTROL
INTERNATIONAL BANK OF TRADE PLC,
Plot 1-2, Sanusi Fafunwa Street,
Wuse phase ll,Abuja- Nigeria


Dear Sir/Madame,

RE; REQUEST FOR YOU TO STAND AS A NEXT OF KIN AND REPATRIATE 12MILLION USD
TO YOUR PRIVATE/COMPANY ACCOUNT

I was mandated by the Managing Director of INTERNATIONAL BANK OF TRADE PLC
to ascertain your interest and capability to Co-operate with us in
actualizing this highly rewarding project on repatriation of funds to your
country.

Are you willing to be presented as the bonafide next of kin to Mr.Floyd
Thomason, a crude oil merchant from Australia. Until his untimely death by
the Tsunami Disaster in Indonesia, Mr.Floyd operated a fixed Deposit account
of Twelve Million United States Dollars(US$12,000,000.00) with INTERNATIONAL
BANK OF TRADE PLC.

Sequel to his death, the Bank made concerted effort to contact the immediate
family in Australia in order to re-claim and transfer the ownership of the
fund. Unfortunately, the Bank discovered recently that the immediate
families of the depositor Mr. Floyd were also drastically affected by the
same Bomb Explosion while on holidays. Apparently, the fund is now in full
custody of the Bank. After a very serious survey, I and the CEO of the Bank
decided to repatriate this fund to a trustworthy and reliable overseas bank
account for high yield investment portfolios.

The modality of disbursing the fund will be discussed fully with the
Bank-Account owner/provider, which we are offering you. All the documents
establishing the deposit of the fund and empowering you to be Next of
Kin/Beneficiary of the fund will be perfectly secured in your name if
interested in helping secure the fund. Transfer of this fund can be swiftly
and successfully implemented within 14 bank working days if you provide the
necessary overseas infrastructure
required to realize the objective.

Please protect my position in my bank by keeping everything secret and
confidential until we transfer this funds to your distination.Be kind enough
to confirm the receipt of this message for more clarification.

Awaiting your reply.
Sincerely,
Mr. John Pradman

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam