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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "million united states 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: davies cotta <davies_cotta@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:59:51 +0000 (GMT)
Subject: Funds representative/Treat very urgent please.


FROM THE DESK OF:Davies Cotta
CITI BANK
HEADQUARTERS
Dakar-Senegal
WEST AFRICA
Dear customer
I am Mr Davies Cotta, credit officer of African Development Bank. I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.
In June, 2000, a Swiss property consultant and importer of used cars ,Mr Jon Ulrich made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$13,000,000.00(Thirteen Million United States Dollars only) in my branch. It was to our utter suprise that we heard of his death,wife and children in an AF4590 plane crash in July 2003. See website below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm

On further investigation,I found out that he died without making a WILL, and hitherto, all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. Mr Joh Ulrich was residing at No 1 Rue de Avenida, G.R.A.Liberty Dakar Senegal.

I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr Andreas Schranner did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$13,000,000.00 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 Senegal, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will be declared frozen and forfeited to the burkina faso Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin or business partner to Mr Jon Ulrich 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, phone and fax Numbers
So that,I can prepare the necessary documents that will put you in place as the next of kin or business partner. Your role in the transaction is to send an application for claim of the funds to our bank. Then, as top officials of the bank, I shall work behind-the-scene to make sure that your Applicationis approved by the management of the bank, and the funds transfered to your nominated bank account.

Please note that there is no iota of risks at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done legitimately and with my positions as top officials of the bank i would ensure a successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately to my email box.
Please send me your confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy communication.
You should observe utmost CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECRECY in this transaction, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I will require your assistance to invest my share in your country.
I look forward to your prompt response.
Thanks and regards.
MR Davies Cotta


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam