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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "huge amount of money" (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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
• 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.
  • stvenmorga@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Steve Morgan <stvenmorga1@aim.com>
Reply-To: stvenmorga@aim.com
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:47:16 +0100
Subject: Steve Morgan.


I hope this letter finds you well.
While this email will definitely be coming to you as a surprise, please take =
a moment of your time to read this. It is very important. I am Mr. Steve =
Morgan, working in a Finance house. However I got your address through the =
International web directory online. During our recent reconciliation and =
auditing of our Finance house accounts, my department discovered an over =
dormant account with a huge amount of money valued at US$ 8,500,000.00 =
(Eight million, five hundred thousand, United State dollars Only) that =
belongs to one of our late customers; Mr. Williams. He has passed away (dead) =
leaving no beneficiary to the account. So the funds have been dormant in his =
account with this Finance house without any claim or activity on it for quite =
some time.
Due to our Finance house regulations, It is only a foreigner that can stand =
as a next of kin and it is upon this discovery that I decided to contact you =
to collaborate with you to reactivate these dormant funds. So to avert any =
negative development and chance losing these funds forever. On behalf of my =
colleagues and I we now seek your permission to have you stand in as next of =
kin to our late customer so that the fund will be released and paid into your =
account. You would become the beneficiary's next of kin to release these =
funds into your charge. We are not allowed to operate a foreign account and =
that would eventual raise an eyebrow during the time of transfer. I still =
work in this Finance house, this is the actual reason why I required a second =
party or fellow who will work with me forward claims as the next of kin =
(you) and also provide a bank account or to set up a new bank account =
immediately to receive these inactive funds.
However, on conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 40% of =
the total fund, while 10% will be set aside to take care of expenses on both =
sides that may arise during the time of transfer and also for telephone =
bills, and the remaining 50% will be for my colleagues and I.
What I want from you is for you to act as the deceased next of kin. I have in =
my possession, all the necessary Documents to successfully accomplish the =
operation. Further information will be given to you as soon as I receive your =
positive response.
I suggest you get back to me as soon as possible stating your wish. We don't =
have alot of time to correct this unfortunate situation and I am afraid that =
without your help it will all be lost forever. For confidentiality please =
contact me on my personal email address/telephone number; =
(stvenmorga@aim.com) with the following your data: Full names, Address, =
Telephone number and Fax number.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Mr.Steve Morgan

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam