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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.

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:
  • "please endeavor 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)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • ",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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • patchann@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "From Mr. P.K. Chan." <chanpat802@aim.com>
Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 02:12:46 -1100
Subject: From Hong Kong.


Good Day

I am Mr. Pat.Chan working with the Hang Seng Bank Ltd Hong Kong.Before the
U.S.A. and Iraqi war our client Colonel Sadiq Uday who was with the Iraqi
forces and also businessman, made a numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar
months, with a value of Ten million Five Hundred Thousand United State
Dollars only (US$10,500,000.00) in my branch.
Upon maturity several notices was sent to him, even during the war which
began in 2003. Again after the war another notification was sent and still
no response came from him. We later found out that the Colonel along with
his wife and only daughter had been killed during the war in a bomb blast
that hit their home.

After further investigation it was also discovered that Colonel Sadiq Uday
did not declare any next of kin in his official papers including the paper
work of his bank deposit. And he also confided in me the last time he was at
my office that no one except me knew of his deposit in my bank.
So, Ten million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only
(US$10,500,000.00) is still lying in my bank and no one will ever come
forward to claim it.What bothers me most is that according to the laws of my
country at the expiration 5 years the funds will revert to the ownership of
the Hong Kong Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Against this
backdrop,my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a foreigner to
stand as the next of kin to Colonel Sadiq Uday so that you will be able to
receive his funds.

MODALITIES:

I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we shall
come out successful. I have an attorney that will prepare the necessary
document that will back you up as the next of kin to Colonel Sadiq Uday, all
that is required from you at this stage is for you to provide me with your
Full Names and Address so that the attorney can commence his job.

After you have been made the next of kin, the attorney will also fill in
for claims on your behalf and secure the necessary approval and of probate
in your favour for the move of the funds to an account that will be provided
by you.There is no risk involved at all in this matter,as we are going to
adopt a legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary
documents.
Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this
issue. Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account
we shall then share this Ten million Five Hundred Thousand United State
Dollars only (US$10,500,000.00) in the ratio of 70% for me, 30% for you.
Should you be interested please send me your,

1,Full names,
2,Occupation
3,private phone/fax number,
4,Your address,

through my personal secured email address :patchann@aim.com

Upon receiving your response I shall provide you with more details on how
to successfully conclude this business transaction.

Your earliest response to this letter will be apprecited.

Kind Regards,

Pat K.W. Chan.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam