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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:
  • "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.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +27839680894 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Alex Daniel" <alexzna@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: alexzna@gawab.com
Date: Fri, 05 May 2006 02:41:29 +0200
Subject: Message From Mr. Alex


PLOT 3/4 SANDTON DRIVE I

Johannesburg, South Africa

+27-83-968-0894

Greetings,



I am Mr. Alex Daniel, a Chief Accountant Auditor with Amalgamated Bank of South Africa. On 14 October 1999, a German mining consultant/contractor with the South African Agip Energy and Natural Resources plc, Mr. Andreas Schranner made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve (12) calendar months, valued at US$ 14 Million United States Dollars in the bank but I want to first make the transfer of $7 Million United States Dollars? Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a Reminder and finally we discovered that Mr. Andreas Schranner was dead. He died in the plane crash of 31 July2000, below:


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

I therefore made further investigation and discovered That Mr. Andreas Schranner did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$7, Million United States Dollars is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to South African Law, at the expiration of 10 (Ten) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the South Africa Government if nobody applies to claim the fund as unclaimed fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a Foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Andreas Schranner so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. I will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin. A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as the Senior Manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this business if you are interested Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. Upon your response,

I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction.

Best regards,

Alex Daniel

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam