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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • natasegal@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Natasha Segal <natasha@nsegal0.orangehome.co.uk>
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 16:07:47 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: Urgent Assistance Required.



Dear Friend,
My name is Mrs.Natasha Segal from Bills & Exchange Department Royal Prime Trust Bond 78, Mark sway Avenue, Leeds, SW9 9PT United Kingdom,
I would want to use this medium after going through your profile to seek for assistance in a business transaction which is of mutual benefit. A foreigner late Mr.David McGrath who is from the United State, an Oil merchant/Contractor with the British Government , until his death in a ship mishap on the 2nd of May 1999, who Banked with us at our Bank and had a closing balance of US$21.5 million ,which the Bank dose not know any of his available next of kin to claim this funds.
To this regards, I have been directed by the board of Trustees of the bank to notify the diseased next of kin, which I have done and found out that he has no next of kin, which means that this funds will be lost to the government,which we all know will be stolen by the British Government officials. In order to avert this development, myself and some of my trusted colleagues in the bank now seek your indulgence to have you stand as late Mr David McGrath next of kin so that the fund will be subsequently transferred and paid into your foreign account.
On indicating your interest, all documents and proofs to enable you get this funds will be carefully worked out and we are assuring you a 100% risk free transaction. You will be allowed to retain 30% of the total amount after the transaction. If this proposal is okay by you, and you wish to take advantage of the trust bestowed on you mail me as soon as possible at natasegal@aim.com to enable me furnish you with relevant details to this transaction.
Note: This transaction will only last us 10 working days.
Please, disabuse your mind by not equating this, with the every day online scam that people come accross everyday,but rather treat it with the utmost level of promptness and confidentiality.

Best regards,
Mrs.Natasha Segal

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam