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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "ecowas " (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "douglas micahel" <dm_douglas3@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2007 13:44:42 +0000
Subject: Can I give you this trust?

MR DOUGLAS MICHAEL
AUDITING DEPARTMENT
ECOWAS BANK FOR INVESTMENT & DEVELOPMENT
(EBID-TOGO) WEST AFRICA.

Dear Friend.

I have a proposal for you - this however is not mandatory nor will I in any
manner compel you to honour against your will. I am 50 years, and work with
a bank (one of the African leading banks in the West Coast). Here in this
bank existed a dormant account for the past 8 years which belong to a
American national who is now late Mr.Raymond Beck, Mrs. Dorene Beck ,who
died on Egypt Air Flight 990

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm

When I discovered that there had been no deposits nor withdrawals from this
account for this long period, I decided to carry out a system investigation
and discovered that non of the family member nor relations of the late
person is aware of this account. This is the story in a nutshell. Now I want
an account overseas where the bank will transfer this funds.Thereafter,
I had planned to destroy all related documents for this account. It is a
careful network and for the past eleven months I have worked out everything
to ensure a hitch-free operation. The amount is not so much at the moment
and plus all the accumulated interest the balance in this account stands
at-(US$ 9 million US dollars).


Now our questions are:-

1. Can you handle this project?
2. Can I give you this trust?
3. What will be your commission?
4.Your phone number?

Consider this and get back at us as soon as possible. Finally, it is our
humble prayer that the information as contained herein be accorded the
necessary attention, urgency as well as the secrecy it deserves. I Expect
your urgent response if you can handle this project. Call me at this direct
line 00228-906-70-24 after sending a mail for confirmation.

Respectfully yours,

MR DOUGLAS MICHAEL

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam