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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• 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:
  • "huge amount 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)
  • "abidjan" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "thomson_kato2280" <thomson_kato2280@terra.com.mx>
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 13:44:57 -0600
Subject: Please i need your urgent help


Dear Respected One,

Greetings to you and your family.

With heavy heart i am sending you this letter and will be very grateful if you could take your time to read this email and let me know your sincere capability to stand as my guardian concerning my inherited money.

I am Master Thomson Kato, the only son of late Chief Alfred Kato from the Republic of South Africa. I was 22 years old this june 2006. My father was a well established diamond and gold dealer in Johannesburg, South Africa. After 3 days he came back from a business meeting from Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire he was mobbed and attacked by some unknown gunmen on his way back from his private warehouse accompanied by my only little sister Nene, who died instantly from a gun shots. My father died after some days in a private hospital. While on his sick bed he disclosed to me about huge amount of money up to 6.8million American dollars he deposited in a banks in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire indicating my name as his next of kin and heir to the money. He also told me during our conversations that in case he dies of the attack i should look for a capable and trustworthy person who will take good care of me and will guide me in retrieving and investing this money wisely to become useful in life.

Now because of the wicked and frustrating ways of my uncles back home in South Africa. I am here now in Abidjan and have located the bank where my father deposited the money and have successfully identified myself to them. But they refused to release the money to me insisting that i must present to them my legal guardian as demanded by my father's deposit agreement with them before they can release the money to us because of my age.

Please i cannot continue to suffer further in life when i have enough to survive with. I am asking your guardianship by providing a bank account where this money will be safely transferred into for a very good and lucrative investiments in your country and also help in my relocation to your country to be able to comfortably finish my education.

I have made up my mind to compensate you with the 10% of the total money for your kind consideration and assistance.

In cheerful anticipation of your quick reply.

Thanks and God bless,

Master Thomson Kato.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam