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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
  (+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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "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.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +31626537142 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • peter_vansmith@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Peter Van Smith" <peter_vansmith2@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:28:54 +0800
Subject: Here is My Telephone Number.

Attn: CEO/President
Dear Friend,

I am Peter Van Smith; I was the personal attorney to Eng. John McPherson,
a national of your country who used to work with an oil servicing company
here in Europe.

Eng. John McPherson 65 years of age made a fixed deposit of fund Valued at
US$18,500,000.00
(Eighteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) in a
diplomatic consignment
with a Security Company/Finance Firm here in Europe and unfortunately lost
his life in an Egyptian
charter plane Boeing 737 which crashed into the Red Sea early on January 3,
2004 shortly after
taking off from the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all the 135
passengers and 13 crew members
aboard. (View: http://english.people.com.cn/200401/04/eng20040104_131791.sh
tml)

Recently, the governing body of the Security Company/Finance Firm contacted
me on this matter,
requesting that I should notify the Next of Kin of my late client to
proceed for the claim of the deposited
funds. He left no clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital
documents related to the deposit still
in my possession and I am yet to provide the Next of Kin to make claims of
the Funds.

Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I seek your consent to
present you as the Next of Kin
so that my late client's fund will not be confiscated by the Security
Company. You and I can share the
money, you will be entitled to 40% of the total fund for your role as the
relative and Next of Kin of my late
client, 50% for me while 10% is to be marked out for any expenses that will
be incurred during the
clearance or process of transfer of the funds to your bank account.

Be informed that there is no risk involved as all necessary legal documents
which will be used to back you
up as beneficiary and Next of Kin of my late client will be carefully
procured. All I require is your sincerity,
honesty; co-operation and utmost good faith to enable us see this deal
through. I guarantee that this will
be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any
breach of the law.

Kindly, get in touch with me by e-mail (peter_vansmith@yahoo.co.uk) or by
telephone (+31 626 537 142)
to discuss further. You may also send your telephone number so that I can
call you. Do not forget that a
transaction of this magnitude require utmost confidentiality and sincerity.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam