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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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 friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "hundred thousand 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.
• Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
• 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.
  • +27781444425 (South Africa, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: nkosi.attorneys@sify.com
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 21:29:12 +0200
Subject: From Nkosi Attorneys

NKOSI ATTORNEYS
Attorneys, Notaries & Conveyancers
132 Esselen Street. Pretoria 0001,
Republic of South Africa
Telephone: + 27-781-444425

URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Friend
Compliment of the season

I am Kenneth Nkosi (Esq) a Solicitor & Financial Attorney/Consultant in Pretoria, South Africa. I was the personal attorney to late Mr. Donald Hanson, a national of your country who was a top Frank Howard Allen Realtors and also an avid community volunteer and a world traveler. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 31st January, 2001, my client, his wife and two kids were involved in a car accident along Pretoria free way. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to embassys around to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful.And I have sent letter to the address of my client but never recieved a response.After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet to locate any member of his family hence It wasn’t successful and I have contacted you having in mind that you might not know him, but with your personality and position as his fellow countryman we can achieve this aim.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank and country where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the Africa Development Bank Group SA, where the deceased had an account valued at about Twelve Million Eight Hundred Thousand United states Dollars US$12.8M whom have severally issued me a notice to provide the Next of Kin or have the account confiscated to the Government funds.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 5 years now I seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin of the deceased since he is a national of your country, so that the proceeds of this account valued at (US$12.8M)can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money. I wish to point out that after the claims, I would want 20% of this money to be shared among charity organizations, while the remaining 80% is shared equally between us.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us in seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Kindly reply through my chamber e-mail or call my direct line: +27-781-444425.

Best Regards
Kenneth Nkosi (Esq)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam