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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.

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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)
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • "international remittance department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
  • "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: morgan brown <morgan.5@msn.com>
Reply-To: <morgan_brown2007@myway.com>
Date: Thu, 22 May 2008 17:14:35 +0000
Subject: URGENT



My Dear Friend, I request for your quick help in this {DEAL} that will benefit bothOf us without any risk Involved either now or later. I am Mr.Morgan Brown, 56 years of age from London and a Chief Auditor in theInternational Remittance Department (IRD) in London. I have an amount in Excess of One Hundred & Sixty two million pounds (£162,000.000.00) only, which Has been lying, in our suspense escrow account for safe keeping. For over 3 years now lying as unclaimed bill which belongs to a "deceased customer" Mr. John Paul Getty from United States of America who died on April. 17, 2003 after a brief illness in London Hospital (BBC News), Visit the website below for confirmation; http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/uk/2956897.stm after 5 years according to British constitution, the funds will be reverted to the Bank Vault {Central Bank of United Kingdom} as "UNCLAIMED", All I need from you now is to present yourself to the Bank Management as the next of kin to the deceased and have the funds paid to you as the (Beneficiary) as your late Uncle's money which he left in our bank. Your status as a foreigner will facilitate the deal. Please if you are interested, kindly get back to me as quick as possible to enable me make all the necessary arrangement towards how to present you to the bank as "the next of kin" to the deceased. It does not matter if you are from America or not. What matters is the assistance of foreigner any where in the world. After the claim of this money by you through our assistance, you willTake 45% of the total Sum and 5% to cover any cost or expenses whichMight incur in this transaction and keep the rest 50% for me in theAccount I will forward to you later after the deal is done or I willCome to your place for sharing etc. Please it’s urgent I hear from you, and then I will send you the details of this transaction.Hope to hearing from you soon.Best Regards,Mr. Morgan Brown,

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam