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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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: john coker <john_coker_02@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <john_coker20077@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 16:32:38 +0100
Subject: Hi



HALIFAX BANKRegional Office, South Quay PlazaWarsh Wall, SR London.
Dear Friend

I am Mr John Coker Accounting officer with Halifax Bank Plc, London. I haveurgent and very confidential business proposition for you. During the Course of our auditing, I discovered a floating fund in an account opened here in the bank in 2002 and since 2003 nobody has operated on this account again.
After Going through some old files in the records, I Discovered that the owner of the account died without An Heir apparent to the throne, hence the money is Floating and if I do not remit this money out Urgently it willbe forfeited for nothing. Paul Wellstone, his wife Sheila and daughter Marcia died Friday in a small plane crash near Eveleth, Minnesota, that also killed three staff members and two pilots. Go to CNN NEWS;http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/25/plane.crash.minn/The owner of this account who is Sen. Paul Wellstone, A foreigner and senator died, since 2002,until now no other person(s) knows about this Account or could give any documentary evidence Concerning this account.As such this account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as Well that Sen. Paul Wellstone until his death was the Manager Oriental Gold Company in CONGO.
I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Paul Wellstone did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$25,,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 and according to British Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money willevert to the ownership of the British Government if nobody applies to claimthe fund.
Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Paul Wellstone so that the fruits of this man labour will not get into the hands of British government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address so that it will be forwarded to the bank which will put you in place as the next of kin.for the transfer to take place. A bank account in of your choice in any part of the world, which 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 60% for me and 40% for you.There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done as the Manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately.
Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevantdocuments that will help you understand the transaction.Include your telephone and fax number if you are interested so that we can commence.Please observe utmost confidentiality, and 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.
Awaiting your urgent reply on my email address, pls remember to include your telephonenumbers and your full name for easy communication.
Thanks and regards.
Mr John Coker
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam