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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:
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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • wernerkrusi@tangana.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "werner krusi " <wernerkrusi1@aim.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 06:53:07 -1100
Subject: PRIVATE.


Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Werner krusi , a member of the Swiss Banker’s Association, a
body which works closely with the Independent Committee of Eminent Persons
(ICEP), Switzerland. ICEP is charged with the responsibility of finding bank
accounts in Switzer land belonging to non-Swiss citizens, which has been for
a long time now.
It may interest you to know that in July of 1997, the Swiss Banker's
Association published a list of dormant accounts originally opened by
non-Swiss citizens. These accounts had been dormant since the end of World
War II (May 9, 1945). Most belonged to Holocaust victims.
The published lists contain all types of dormant accounts, including
interest-bearing savings accounts, securities accounts, safe deposit boxes,
custody accounts, and non-interest-bearing transaction accounts. Numbered
accounts are also included. Interest is paid on accounts that were interest
bearing when established. The Claims Resolution Tribunal (CRT) handles
processing of all claims on accounts due non-Swiss citizens. A dormant
account belonging to Aufreiter Johann with a credit balance of US$14M plus
accumulated interest was discovered by me. The beneficiary was a victim
during the holocaust era, leaving no WILL and no possible records for trace
of heirs. The Claims Resolution Tribunal has been mandated to report all
unclaimed funds for permanent closure of accounts and transfer of existing
credit balance into the treasury of Switzerland government as provided by
the law for management of assets of deceased beneficiaries who died
interstate (leaving no wills).
By virtue of my office, I have all details and necessary contacts for
claim of the funds without any hitch. However, due to the sensitive nature
of my job, I need a foreigner to HELP claim the funds. To avoid traces i
will liquidate this account and deposit the funds with in a deposit safe
account in another country here in Europe.I will thereafter give you further
documents to enable you receive the funds.
You will be required to provide me with your full name, address, and
telephone/fax. My share will be 60 percent and your share is 40 per cent of
the total amount. There is no risk involved and I hope that this is ok by
you.
You can find additional information about the unclaimed funds through on
the following websites:
www.swissbankclaims.com
http://www.crt-ii.org/2005_list/publication_list1_A.phtm
Anticipating your prompt response
wernerkrusi@tangana.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam