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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) 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.

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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 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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2347035825518

Fraud email example:

From: "FRANK AFOBI" <frankafobi4@me.by>
Reply-To: afrank2008@aim.com
Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 12:07:38 +0100
Subject: Dear Friend,


Dear Friend,


I am Mr Frank Afobi branch Manager of a Bank in Lagos Nigeria.I am
contacting you to assist in the claim of some outstanding sum of money which
was left by one of my very good clients who died in a AF4590 plane crash on
his way to america after he left Nigeria to germany for business.


This client Christian Eich was an engineer with one of the foremost
construction firms here in Nigeria. He left no known next of kin and all our
attempts to trace someone related to him to whom we could pay the money
proved abbortive. I have now personally decided to contact you to stand on
behalf of the family so I can present you as his next of kin using my
influence as a Manager of this bank.


The amount involved is USD11 million (Eleven million United States Dollars)
which is the account balance.You can view the website for more details on
the death of the man http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm I
contacted you because it is against our code of ethics to own and operate a
foreign accounts and your assistance would be needed to claim the money .I
have agreed that 30% of the entire sum would be for you if you agree to take
part in this profitable transaction, 65% for me while the remaining 5% would
be used to pay back the expenses that may be incurred during the course of
the transaction by both parties after the fund has been claimed as the next
of kin.


You should send me the following information:

1. FULL NAMES.
2. RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
3. AGE.
4. OCCUPATION.
5. PRIVATE PHONE NUMBER.
6. FAX NUMBER (if any)
7. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.


Upon the receipt of the above information I shall send you more details.


I look forward to hearing from you asap.


Yours faithfully,


Mr. Frank Afobi.
+23470 35825518

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam