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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "i will give you 35% " (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)
  • "foreign remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: azman karim <azmankarim49@hotmail.fr>
Reply-To: <azmankarim2006@inmail24.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:36:17 +0200
Subject: TREAT URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL PLEASE



FROM THE DESK OF Mr.AZMAN KARIM BILL AND EXCHANGE MANAGER FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT BANK OF AFRICA, (B.O.A)OUAGADOUGOU,BURKINA FASO WEST AFRICA. DEAR SIR//MADAM, DO ACCEPT MY SINCERE APOLOGIES IF MY MAIL DOES NOT MEET YOUR PERSONAL ETHICS ALTHOUGH, I WISH TO USE THIS MEDIUM TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU FIRST BECAUSE IT'S FASTEST MEANS. I AM Mr.AZMAN KARIM AN EXTERNAL AUDITOR OF A WELL KNOWN BANK HERE IN BURKINA-FASO. IN ONE OF OUR PERIODIC AUDITING I DISCORVERD A DORMANT ACCOUNTS WITH HOLDING BALANCE OF 14.5 000,000 (FOURTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS) WHICH HAS NOT BEEN OPERATED FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. FROM MY INVESTIGATIONS AND CONFIRMATIONS, THE OWNER OF THIS ACCOUNT, A FOREIGNER BY NAME DR. JOHN KOROVO, JORDAN DIED IN PLANE CRASH IN JULY,2003 AND SINCE THEN NOBODY HAS DONE ANYTHING AS REGARDS THE CLAIMING OF THIS MONEY BECAUSE HE HAS NO FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE AWARE OF THE EXISTENCE OF NEITHER THE ACCOUNT NOR THE FUNDS. I HAVE SECRETLY DISCUSSED THIS MATTER WITH A TOP SENIOR MINISTER OFFICIAL OF THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE HERE AND WE HAVE AGREED TO FIND A RELIABLE FOREIGN PARTNER TO DEAL WITH US ALTHOUGH DUE TO HIS POSSITION HE DID NOT WANT TO TAKE ACTIVE PART BUT AS SOON AS YOU FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTIONS EVERYTHING WILL BE SUCCESSFULL BECAUSE WE WILL BE WORKING HAND TO HAND WITH HIM.PLEASE FILL IN THE FOLLOWING DETAILS THANKS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.1. NAME IN FULL:................................2. ADDRESS:.......................................3. NATIONALITY:...................................4. AGE:.............................................5. SEX..............................................6. OCCUPATION:......................................7. MARITAL STATUS:..................................8. PHONE............................................9. FAX:............................................. WE THUS PROPOSE TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU,STANDING IN AS THE NEXT OF KIN OF THESE FUNDS FROM THE DECEASED AND AFTER DUE LEGAL PROCESSES HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED THE FUND WILL BE RELEASED TO YOUR ACCOUNT WITHOUT DELAY AND WE WILL USE IT FOR INVESTMENT AND TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVELAGED IN THE SOCIETY BECAUSE IF WE LEFT THE FUND WITH THE GOVERNMENT IT WILL BE FORTIFIED FOR NOTHING AND WILL BE USED TO SUPPRESS THE POOR MASSES IN THE SOCIETY. THIS TRANSACTION IS TOTALLY FREE OF RISK AND TROUBLES AS THE FUND IS LEGITIMATE AND DOES NOT ORIGINATE FROM DRUG, MONEY LAUNDRY, TERRORISM OR ANY OTHER ILLEGAL ACT.FINALLY, I WILL GIVE YOU 35% FOR YOUR COPORATION, 5% WILL BE FOR EXPENSES BOTH PARTIES MIGHT HAVE INCURRED DURING THIS PROCESS. ON RECEIPT OF YOUR RESPONSE I WILL FURNISH YOU WITH DETAILED CLARIFICATION AS IT RELATES TO THIS MUTUAL BENEFIT TRANSACTION. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO HELP ME OUT IN THIS MATTER AT HAND. PLEASE REPLY URGENTLY.TELL//00226 76 058 145 BEST REGARDS, DR. AZMAN KARIM.
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam