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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:

• 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:
  • "hundred thousand 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)
• 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.
  • mr.martin_alex@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "mr.martin_alex1 Gazeta.pl" <mr.martin_alex1@gazeta.pl>
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 18:52:36 +0100
Subject: YOUR URGENT REPLY


*I come to you with this legitimate business which will be a mutual benefit
for both us. I am Mr. Martin Ben Mikel, a Branch Manager of Eco Bank Plc.**

During our bank routine check, we discovered the sum of $9.5M (Nine Million,
five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) which belonged to one of
our foreign customers Late Mr. Ente C. Bright an expatriate who works with
Oil Company here in Nigeria before his death on Friday, the 9th day of Dec.
2005.

Our bank want to freeze his account now since nobody comes up to claim his
money and I don't want to loose this money as this is an opportunity for
both of us to make money. I now want to transfer this money to you for
safekeeping/disbursement. I contacted you for this transaction because I
cannot stand as next of kin to a foreigner. You have 45% of the total sum
while 55% will be for me.

This transaction is 100% legitimate and risk free. You not relating to him
does not have anything to do with this transaction. All I needed from you is
an assurance that my own share will be release to me after the transfer of
this money to you. You have to keep this transaction absolute secret till we
get this money into your account. This transaction will be concluded within
10 working days.

What you have to do now is to send the following information to me
immediately.

YOUR FULL NAMES.*

*YOUR ADDRESS.**
YOUR AGE.
YOUR OCCUPATION.
YOUR DIRECT PHONE NUMBERS.

Upon the receipt of your reply with the requested information's, I will send
to you an Application Letter which you will send to our bank headquarters so
that they will transfer the money to you immediately.

Trusting to hear from you immediately to enable us proceed further.*

*Regards,*
*Mr.Martin Alex*
*Reply To Email;mr.martin_alex@yahoo.com*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam