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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.

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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
• 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.
  • jamesedward008@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Edward James" <jamesoffice@mailbox.hu>
Reply-To: jamesedward008@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 31 May 2008 05:38:17 -0800
Subject: REPLY NOW


My Dear Friend,

I am DR James Edward of Barclays Bank, London. On July 6, 2004, our client
Mr. Mike Hall, a businessman, made a numbered fixed deposit for 6 (six)
calendar months, with a value of US$45 Million only with this bank. Upon
maturity six Months later, several notices where sent to him and no response
came from him. A final Maturity Notice on his investment was sent early
February and still no response came from him.

The Bank officially sent a two-man delegate to his residence and his
official address as stated in his confidential file with the bank, only to
find out that the business mogul and his family perished in the Tsunami
disaster. A confirmation of the death of Mike Hall and his wife can be seen
via the link below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/4153821.stm

After further investigations, it was also discovered that Mr. Mike Hall did
not declare any next of kin or trustee to the funds on behalf of the family
of the deceased in his official papers apart from his wife who also died in
the disaster, including the paper work of his bank deposit. And he also
confided in me the last time he visited my office that no one apart from his
wife and me knew of his deposit in my bank. So, Forty Five million United
State Dollars is still lying in my bank and no one will ever come forward to
claim it, that I know for sure.

According to the laws of the United Kingdom, at the expiration of four years
(4years) without any transaction on the account, the funds will revert to
the ownership of Government if nobody applies for claim of the funds. I will
like you as a foreigner to stand as the Trustee to the said funds and not
the next of kin as this would raise so much eye braw and suspicion as you
are in no way related to the deceased, Mr. Mike Hall to enable you receive
the funds. Let US put heads together to see how we can transfer these funds
out of this country and use it judiciously.

I have contacted an Attorney that will prepare the necessary documents that
will back you up as the trustee to the said funds deposited by Mr. Mike
Hall. All that is required from you at this stage is for you to provide me
with your full names and Address including your direct phone and fax numbers
and your business or company name and contact details if you have any for
the lawyer I have gotten to commence work immediately.

My Attorney will also file in for claims on your behalf and secure the
necessary approvals and get most i8mportantly, a letter which will be
presented to my bank as written by Late Mike Hall after making the deposits
appointing you as his only trustee to the funds aside his wife known to the
bank as his next of kin. This will all be in your favor for the funds to be
moved to an account that will be provided by you. We are going to adopt a
legalized method and the Attorney will prepare all the necessary documents
and no risk will be involved.

I am offering you 25% of the total sum for your assistance and partnership
in this deal. Note, this is negotiable by both parties, so if this is not ok
with you, let me know what sharing ratio you would want, if it is ok with
me, we can go ahead. I can be reached on email: jamesedward008@yahoo.com.hk

Contact me immediately with your full names, address, occupation, personal
and direct fax and telephone number if you are interested to do this
business with me and more details will be provided to you about the Project.


Best Regards,

DR JAMES EDWARD

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam