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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • f.chenglee@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "frank cheng lee" <f.chenglee2@googlemail.com>
Date: Wed, 2 May 2007 14:36:40 +0100
Subject: Urgent Assistance Required


FROM THE DESK OF:FRANK CHENG LEE

I am Mr. Frank Cheng Lee,Head-International/Overseas Audit Department
Bank of China Hong Kong.I have urgent and very confidential business
proposition for you.

On May 18, 2002,a British Oil consultant/contractor with the Chinese
Solid Minerals Corporation,Mr. Lawrence Wise,made a numbered time
(Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months,valued at US$9,000,000.00
(Nine Million Dollars) in my branch.Upon maturity,I sent a routine
notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.After a
month,I sent a reminder and finally I discovered from his contract
employers, the Chinese Solid Minerals Corporation that Mr. Lawrence
Wise died from an automobile accident.

On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a
WILL, and all attempts to trace his Next-of-Kin was fruitless.

I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr.
Lawrence Wise did not declare any Kin or relations in all his official
documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum
of US$9,000,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is
being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No
one will ever come forward to claim it.

According to Laws of Republic of China, at the expiration of 5 (five)
years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Chinese
Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to
stand in as the Next-of-Kin to Mr. Lawrence Wise so that the fruits of
this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt
government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide
immediately your full names and address so that an Attorney will
prepare the necessary documents and Affidavits that will put you in
place as the next of kin. We shall employ the services of an Attorney
for Drafting and Notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary
documents and letter of Probate/Administration in your favour for the
transfer. A bank account in any part of the world that you will
provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the
Beneficiary/Next-of-Kin. The money will be paid into your account for
us to share in the ratio of 70% for me and 30% for you.

There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will
be done by the attorney and my position as Head of Internal Audit
guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are
interested, please reply immediately via email to;
f.chenglee@yahoo.co.uk<http://uk.f251.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=f.chenglee@yahoo.co.uk&YY=40557&y5beta=yes&y5beta=yes&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=a&head=b>.
I want us to be using this as our mode of
communication for now. This is to ensure maximum security.

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and
relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction.

Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this
transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall
require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

Awaiting your urgent reply via email.

Best Regards
Frank Cheng Lee

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam