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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "share the funds upon agreed terms" (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 email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.kofi George" <honjusticekgeorge@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mrkgeorge@excite.com
Date: Sun, 27 May 2007 17:24:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Very Urgent


Good Day to you Sir,

I must solicit your confidentiality and assure you
that I am contacting you in good faith and this
proposal must be of mutual benefit.I am Mr.Kofi George,a legal practitioner.
My client,late Mr.Harry Jones ,was killed with his entire family in
a fatal motor accident and,sparing none of the occupants
of the vehicle two years ago.Before his death,I assisted him in the deposit of
some funds for safekeeping.
The funds have remained unclaimed since his death,and
such unclaimed funds are appropriated and returned to
the treasury as a matter of policy.Considering the
lack of success in my bid to locate any of his
relatives for over a year now,I hereby solicit your
consent to enable me present you as the Next of Kin to
my deceased client.I am contacting you for two reasons.
Firstly,you both have the same last name,which makes
the claim most credible. Secondly,I strongly believe
that the Security Company does not deserve to inherit
the funds.These reasons led to my resolve to claim
the funds,which was why I contacted you.
With your permission,I will proceed to establish you
as the next of kin/Beneficiary to my late client. As
soon as this is done,you will then give instructions
to the Security Company,to transfer the deposited
funds into another account you will provide,after
which we shall then share the funds upon agreed terms.

When I receive your response,I will provide you with
further details.

Yours Faithfully
Kofi George Esq.




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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam