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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.

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:
  • "inheritance tax" (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • psmilebecker@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: peter becker <psmilebecker@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 21:01:04 +0100 (BST)
Subject: HALF BREAD IS BETTER THAN NONE


Sir,

I bring you greeting in the name of almighty Allah. As a matter of fact you don’t know me but will come to know me very soon. In less the one week I will be coming to your country so to meet someone good, I decided to help you so that you will help me also when I come to your country.

My name is Peter Smile Becker, Special Assistance on Inheritance Taxes and Revenues. I have just stumbled on your file of the payment due to you over a long period of time now. Sorry you got involved with bad people who are frustrating your effort in receiving your money. I know you must have incurred debts based on this.

I am going to help you, but as the saying goes, half bread is better then none, I am doing this on my own and will like you to keep it to yourself. I will arrange for the release of Seven Million United States Dollars part of your funds. I will do these in next week. From now until you confirm the 7,000,000 US$, I want you to stop further communication with any person involved in this your overdue process. All the officers, all your friends or your relatives that are involved or that know something about this process should be sidelined until I pull the 5 million into your account. I believe you understand what I mean, infact you will have to swear for me in Allah’s name that you will never disclose to any person until you confirm the receipt of the 7 million.

I am not asking for any financial reward afterwards, but will need your assistance in my other business that I will be pursuing in your country very soon. And you will also benefit from my transaction.

Contact me with you banking details so that your funds will be paid into your account immediately. You need not make any up front payment. Looking forward to our meeting. For confidentiality contact me through me email only. EMAIL: psmilebecker@yahoo.co.uk




BEST REGARDS,



Peter S. Becker.



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam