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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Thabo Edwards <thaboedwards18@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <thaboedwards@hotmail.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2007 18:05:30 +0900
Subject: PROPOSAL FOR AN URGENT TRANSACTION !






TRANSFER FROM THE DESK OF:ABSA BANK OF SOUTH
AFRICA.SANDTON
BRANCH.{USD15MILLION TO TRANSFER}
DECEMBER, 2007.

AMALGAMATED BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA

ATTN:

I am Mr Thabo Edwards, Bank Manager Amalgamated Bank of South Africa {ABSA}. I have urgent and very confidential business proposal for you. An American Gold consultant/contractor with the South African Solid Gold Corporation, Mr Morris Thompson made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply.

After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the South African Solid Gold Corporation that Mr Morris Thompson, died in a plane crash in Alaska Airlines Flight 261(for more information about this crash and person you can contact this website:http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/ since we got this information about his death. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr Morris Thompson did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$15,000,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Laws of Republic of SOUTH AFRICA, at the expiration of 10 (!
TEN) years, the money will revert to the Coffers of the South African Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr Morris Thompson so that the fruits of this old man's labour will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and authorisation of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favour for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 70% for me and 20% for you. then 10% will be mapped out for any expenses that may occur during transactions. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for t!
his transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as the Branch Manager gaurantees the successful execution of this transaction.

If you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email address below. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please send me your fax and confidential telephone numbers for easy communication. Also, observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country.

Regards
Mr Thabo Edwards.
(ABSA)
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam