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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
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • hmkholdings@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: mholdings24@voila.fr
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:54:24 +0100 (CET)
Subject: WITHIN A TIMELINE


HANG SENG BANK
36TH FLOOR SENG BANK
FINANCIAL CENTRE
HONG KONG.

Dear Friend,

I am one of the chief executive of Hang Seng Financial Holdings.

I am contacting you with respect to a portfolio amounting to Thirty Five Million, Five Hundred and Twenty Thousand United States Dollars deposited by a German Merchant named Mr. Rudolf Muller.

On the 18th of October 2002 Mr. Rudolf Muller deposited Twelve Million United States Dollars under our portfolio management department for four years and the deposit matured on the 18th of October 2006 with over 196% growth which amounted to a total of Thirty Five Million, Five Hundred and Twenty Thousand United States Dollar.

Mr. Rudolf Muller has since passed away without stating his next of kin because he deposited the funds in our establishment at a point he was finalizing the divorce procedures of his wife and had no kids coupled with the fact that he was an orphan. This fund has since matured and the roll-over on the funds has also expired.

The main reason of writing you is for you to stand in as successor to the estate of our deceased client and your reward would be 60/40% which is subject to negotiation. This is absolutely confidential.

Do provide me with the following details: Your Full Names, Your Address, Country of Residence, Occupation, Telephone and Fax Details and your Age.

The above informations must be forwarded strictly to my private email address: hmkholdings@aim.com

Please if you are not interested, kindly delete this email and do not hunt me because I am putting my career and the life of my family at stake with this venture.

Awaiting your urgent reply.

Mr. Chen.
hmkholdings@aim.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam