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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)
  • ",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)
  • "top secret" (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)
  • "account opening form" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "cheques " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Toni Green <tonigreen2010@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: tonigreen900@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 09:42:24 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Call Me


Dear Friend

I will like to solicit your help in a business proposition, which is by nature very confidential and a Top Secret. I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make any one worried and apprehensive but I am assuring you not to worry, as all will be well at the end of this endeavor.

I am Mr. Toni Green, Client Service Manager of a prominent bank in Johannesburg, My partners and I have decided to seek your help in transfer of some amount of money requiring maximum confidence from my bank. A foreigner, Late Dr. Edward Merrill, a gold merchant and contractor was one of our valued customer .Shortly before his death last week ago he had received a payment transfer of US$26 million into his account and has instructed me to raise a certified payment draft for that amount in his name to be transferred to his account with HSBC in London, United Kingdom .I was about raising the draft when we got information that he died of heart attack the following day .

So far, valuable efforts has been made to get to his people but to no avail, as he had no known relatives more because he left his next of kin column in his account opening forms blank and he has no known relatives . Due to this development our management and the board of directors are making arrangements for the funds to be declared unclaimed and subsequently paid into the federal government purse. Usually, funds of this nature end up in the greedy pockets of some politicians due to our corrupt society.

To avert this negative development my colleagues and I have decided to look for a reputable person to act as the next of kin to late Dr. Merrill, so that the draft for $26,000,000.00 could be processed and released into his account, which is where you come in. We shall make arrangement with a qualified and reliable attorney that will represent you in liaising with my bank for inconveniency of you coming to my country.

All legal documents to aid your claim for this fund and to prove your relationship with the deceased will be provided by us.With the legal documents,I can raise a certified draft from my bank in your name and then you can have it cleared through a clearing house in London UK.I shall further assist you with the contact of the offshore officer of the clearing house in London where most of the banks cheques pass through. Your help will be appreciated with 30% of the total sum while my colleague and I share the remaining amount.Please do let me know in 48 hours if this proposition meet your interest through a return mail but if not ,kindly accept my apologies, keep my confidence and disregard this letter if my offer is against your moral ethics.However,if you are interested send the following information
1.Full legal names
2.Contact address
3.Direct telephone numbers
4.Age
5.Occupation
6.A copy of your passport or driver's license

All the same , thank you very much for your audience.


I wait anxiously for your response.

Yours faithfully,
Toni Green

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam