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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
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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)
  • "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)
  • "a reliable and reputable person to handle this" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: MARK MORRIS <mark_morris4u@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mark_morris303@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 03:24:12 +0400
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY NEEDED


THE DESK OF MARK MORRIS
BILL AND EXCHANGE,DEPARTMENT
AFRICAN
DEVELOPMENT BANK.
Dear Friend,
First, I must solicit your confidence in this transaction; this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly "CONFIDENTIAL AND TOP SECRET". Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be well at the end of the day.
I came to know of you through private search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential transaction that involves the transfer of a huge sum of money in a dormant account in my bank to a foreign account requiring maximum confidence.

THE PROPOSITION: I wish to know if we can work Together.I would like you to stand as next of kin to my deceased client, who was among the people that lost their life in Egypt air crash 1990 ,some years ago with the wife .
He made some deposits to my bank,and died without any registered next of kin and as such the funds now have an open beneficiary mandate.More over it appears you are related to him by the virtue of your names.
If you are interested you do let me know so that I can give you comprehensive details on what we are to do. I urgently hope to get your response as soon as possible.

Best regards,
Mark Morris.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam