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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: anthonymarchant2006@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 16:19:13 +0100
Subject: ****SPAM**** HIGH * Contacting you for assistance

Dear Friend,

Compliments of the day. I am Mr. Anthony Marchant, a
solicitor at law
and personal attorney to Mr. Morris Lucas, a businessman in
London.
On the 20th of June 2002,

my client, his wife and their two children
were involved in a car accident in which all occupants of
the vehicle
died. My client deposited as family belongings in a bank
here in London
the sum of 17 Million United States Dollars, with the hope
of
transferring it to his country as soon as he is on leave.
Since his
death I have made several attempts to locate any of my
clients extended
relatives, but this attempt so far has been unsuccessful. I
am
contacting you to assist in repatriating the money left
behind by my
client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable
by the
Bank where the deposit was made. The Bank has issued me a
notice to
provide the next of kin or have the money confiscated within
the next
fourteen official working days. Since I have been
unsuccessful in
locating the relatives for over 2 years. I seek your consent
to present
you as the next of kin of the deceased. All legal documents
to aid your
claim for this fund and to prove your relationship with the
deceased
will be arranged for. Your help will be appreciated with 30%
of the
total sum.
All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see
this
transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed
under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach
of the
law. Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and
disregard this
letter if you do not appreciate this proposition I have
offered you.
However, if you do please include your phone and fax number
in your
response for better communication. God bless you and your
family.
Best regards,

Mr. Anthony Marchant (QC)

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam