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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "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 business is hitch free " (a common phrase found 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: MIKE ILO <mikeilo24@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:06:59 +0100 (BST)
Subject: ACT AS NEXT OF KIN TO MR.BARRY KELLY


MR MIKE ILO
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPT.
UNION BANK.

My name is MR.MIKE ILO of credit and foreign bills of Union bank Plc.
I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of my bank with account
number14-255-2004/utb/t who perished in a plane crash [Korean Air Flight
801] with the whole passengers aboard on August 6,1997.

Since the demise of this our customer by name Barry Kelly I personally
has watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has
proved abortive as none has come to claim his funds of usd.15.5M, [Fifteen
million five hundred thousand united states dollars] which has been with
my branch for a very long time. On this note, I decided to seek for
whom his name shall be used as the next of kin as no one has come up to be
the next of kin.

And the banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay more than
five years, because money will be recalled to the bank treasury as
unclaimed after this period.

In view of this I got your contact through a trade journal after
realizing that your name and country is similar to the deceased. I will give
you 30% of the total.Upon the receipt of your response, I will send you by fax or
e-mail the application, bank's fax number and the next step to take.

I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is hitch
free and that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for fund
transfer can be finalized with in five banking days, after you apply to
the bank as a relation to the deceased.When you receive this
letter.Kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your
private Tel/Fax numbers for quick communication.

Yours faithfully,
MR MIKE ILO


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam