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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:
  • "million us 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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Mr.Abdulla Qassem. <abdullaqassem1@gawab.com>
Reply-To: abdullaqassem@gawab.com
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2006 22:58:30 +0400
Subject: Good Morning.


Good Morning,

I am Mr. Abdulla Qassem, a Banker in U. A. E. I write you this proposal in good faith, believing that you will not betray me. I believe it is the WILL of God for us to meet through this means. One Mr. Pedro Brito Rodriguez a American International businessman made a (Fixed deposit) with my bank in 2001 for 48 calendar months, valued at US$17,500,000.00 (Seventeen Million, Five hundred Thousand US Dollars). I was his account officer before I rose to my present position. The due date for this deposit contract was 20th of August 2005 and I made efforts to locate and notify him about the maturity of the fixed deposit, but could not reach him. It was during a decisive effort to get hold of him recently that I discovered he was involved in the American Airlines flight 587 which crashed on the 12th November 2001. You will read more stories about the crash on visiting these websites;

http://www.answers.com/topic/american-airlines-flight-587
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/11/12/newyork.crash/ AND
http://www.guardian.co.uk/a300crash/story/0,,592701,00.html where the passenger list of victims was mentioned. I have made efforts to locate any of his relation, but without success.

Now, a new Financial Law, which takes effect in two month's time, stipulates that any bank account having more than $5,000,000.00 [Five Million US Dollars] will be investigated and the bank shall produce the account owner for interogation on the source. This is a Government measure to checkmate money laundering. If I do not find a way to move this money out of the country immediately, in two month's time, it will be reverted to Government treasury because I cannot provide Mr. Rodriguez. I am seeking your co-operation to present you as the next of kin to the account, so that my bank head quarters will release the funds to you. There is no risk involved; the transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. Let me know how you wish us to share the money, so that both parties will be satisfied. We shall go over the details once I receive your urgent response and please,
treat this as top secret, I am highly placed in my bank and would required 100% confidentiality from you. I wait for your urgent response.

Regards,

Mr. Abdulla Qassem.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam