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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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)
  • "await your urgent response" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
• 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.
  • briansmith1960@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "briansmithxxx Gazeta.pl" <briansmithxxx@gazeta.pl>
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 01:51:35 +0100
Subject: Hello friend,


Hello friend,

My name is Brian Smith. I work in a bank here in the United Kingdom. I
decided to contact you due to the urgency of this transaction.

PROPOSITION:

I am the account officer of a foreigner who died in an air crash along with
his entire family in a forceful plane crash on Monday, 31 July,2000 @
13:22gmt 14:22uk You can confirm this from the website below which was
published on BBC news WEBSITE.

Http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.stm>

Since his death, none of his next-of-kin are alive to make claims for this
money as his heir, because they all died in the same accident, himself and
his wife (May Their soul rest in peace). We cannot release the fund from his
account unless someone applies for claim
as the next-of-kin to the deceased as indicated in our Banking guidelines.
Upon this discovery, I now seek your permission to have you stand as a next
of kin to the deceased, as all documentations will be carefully worked out
for the funds which amounts to (US$12,500,000. 00) to be released in your
favor as the bonafide next of Kin to the deceased.

Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of our mutual
business endeavor by furnishing me with the following information if you are
interested.

1. Beneficiary full name/address.
2. Direct Telephone and fax numbers.

I shall be compensating you with US$4.5m on final conclusion of this Project
for your assistance, while the balance US$8m shall be for me for investment
Purposes.

If this proposal is acceptable by you, please endeavor to contact me
immediately with my private email address: briansmith1960@hotmail.com

I await your urgent response.

Regards,

Mr. Brian Smith.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam