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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
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • ",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)
  • "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)
  • "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.
• 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.
  • mrjamesmicheal@excite.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr.James Micheal" <mrjamesmicheal@nonifamily.net>
Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 16:50:08 +0530 (IST)
Subject: From:Mr.James Micheal

From:Mr.James Micheal
No:8/9 Outer Circle Regents
Park NW3 4RYLondon
Private Email: mrjamesmicheal@excite.com



Dear Sir/Madam,

Greetings to you and your family in the name of God.

My name is Mr.James Micheal,a personal accountant to Late Mr.William
Sturgeon an engineer who ran carmaker BMW's museum who lost his life on
Monday,31 July, 2000, along with his wife, Maria and their children in a
plane crash. The AF4590 crash include all 109 people on board and five who
died on the ground when the plane crashed into the otelissimo.

Since then I have made several inquires to locate any of my client's
extended relatives but this has proved unsuccessful. After these several
unsuccessful attempts, I have decided to contact you to act as the next of
kin by assisting me in repatriating the money in his account with Bank Of
Scotland. The Bank has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin
within the next 14 official working days or the account declared
unserviceable and confiscated. The amount involved is 10,500,000.00 (Ten
Million five hundred thousand Pounds Sterling only).

Therefore, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the
Late Mr.William Sturgeon so that the 10,500,000.00 (Ten Million five
hundred thousand Pounds Sterling only) can be paid to you and then we (you
and I) can share the money.Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be
rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us
because I shall require your assistance to invest part of my own share in
your Country.

If you are intersting in this proposal,Kindly get back to me (ASAP)so that
I will give you more details for the transfer.

Let me hear from you URGENTLY by my private email for more
information.<mrjamesmicheal@excite.com>

Best Regards,
Mr.James Micheal

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam