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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "huge sum of money" (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: Michael Smith <michaelsmith71@zonai.com>
Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2006 04:30:24 +0100
Subject: Greetings from Channel Islands.


Greetings from Channel Islands.
It is my pleasure to contact you by email. My name is Michael Smiths. I am managing head, Audit Committee of an established Corporate Financial Service Provider here in Channel Islands. Of course, I am contacting you in a non-official capacity and therefore require your utmost confidentiality.
I am currently in search of a foreign business partner who is in a position to assist me with an urgent fund transfer, as time is not on my side. I need a partner, who understands what confidentiality means and who has the necessary facilities required in embarking on this important venture.

We had a client who deposited a huge sum of money with one of our branches in Europe, who later died in a fatal car accident on November 12, 2001. The client died intestate and nominated no successor in title over the investments made with our bank. Since the death of this client, I personally have watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his funds of £6,300,000.00 (Six Million Three Hundred Thousand Pounds) deposited with our bank in 2000. This client shares the same surname with you. It is for this reason that I am contacting you.
In accordance with the British Trust and Federal Laws, at the expiration of 6 (six) years, his investments with our Financial Trust shall revert to ownership of the government of the country of the said investments if nobody applies as the next of kin to claim the investments.
Since you share the same surname with this client, I want to present you to stand in as the next of kin so that you and I can benefit from this investment equally (i.e. 50% for you and 50% for me). I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach of the law, as I will use my position to secure approvals and guarantee the successful execution of this transaction.If this proposal is acceptable to you, kindly indicate your full names, your private telephone, fax numbers and location where the money will be remitted. I will instruct you on the next step to take.
I look forward to your earliest response.
With warm greetings,
Michael Smiths.
Helvetia Court
South Esplanade, St Peter Port
Guernsey, Channel Islands GY1 4EE
Tel/Fax:44-702-407-4036

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam