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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "from the desk of" (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 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: "Apollos Zenith" <fridayapollos@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: zbplcng@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 21:16:28 +0000
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF: APOLLOS IKPOBE

FROM THE DESK OF: APOLLOS IKPOBE
ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

My name is Apollos Ikpobe, I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of
my bank (ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC)with account number 14-255-2004/ZIB/t
who perished in a plane crash Korean Air Flight. Since the demise of this
client customer, I personally have watched with keen interest to see the
next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has come to claim his
funds of USD$.30 m, [Thirty million United States dollars] which has been
with my branch for a very long time. On this note, I decided to seek for a
foreigner who I can present as the next of kin hence 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 twelve Banking years, after which the money will be call into
the bank treasury as unclaimed funds. In view of this I got your contact
from a business contact enquiry.

I will give you 25% of the total. Upon the receipt of your response, I will
commence on manipulating your information into the file as the next of kin
and I will send you information on how we intend to actualize our objective
in a legal manner.

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 within five banking days, after your claim is established
as the certified next of kin to the deceased.
When you receive this letter, kindly send me your private Tel/Fax Numbers
for effective communication .

Thanks.
Awaiting your favourable response.
Yours truly,
APOLLOS IKPOBE

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam