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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • ",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)
  • "time is not on my side" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "trust_torres Gazeta.pl" <trust_torres@gazeta.pl>
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2008 13:06:41 +0100
Subject: From:Mr.Moreno Torres/Mutual Benefits Request.


Royal Trust Securitas SA,
C/Tres Cruces.8 Portal A,
5F,Madrid,Spain.

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr.Moreno Torres,I am an Accountant,with Royal Trust Securitas
SA,Spain.

The purpose of my writing to you is because I am searching for a foreign
business partner who is in a position to assist me with my urgent business
proposal,as time is not on my side.A partner,who understands what
confidentiality means and who has the necessary facilities I require in
embarking on this important venture.I decided to contact you through email
as it has remained the only possible means I consider safe to contact you.I
apologize if this is not suitable to you.

The Deal I want to discuss with you is that I want to transfer to abroad
US$16,500,000.00 (Sixteen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars) from a Security Company,Royal Trust Securitas SA,Madrid,Spain
Branch,situated in the above named location here in Spain (Europe).

I am contacting you in a non-official capacity to provide either an existing
bank account or to set up a new bank account immediately to receive this
money,even an empty account can serve to receive this money,as long as you
will remain honest to the transaction.

I discovered this large sum of funds during the course of our auditing as a
floating fund in an account opened with the Security Company in 1990 and
since 1993 nobody has operated on this account again.

From my investigations I found out that the owner of this account was a
foreigner,and an Industrialist,who died since 1993 and no other person knows
about this account or anything concerning it except and most probably you as
you read this letter.

The account has no beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well
that the owner of the account until his death was the Managing
Director,Autohaus Fuchs,GMBH.

I am contacting you as a foreigner because this money can only be approved
to a foreigner with a valid International Passport,Drivers License and
foreign account because the money is in US Dollars and the former owner of
the account is a foreigner too.

I am revealing all this to you with the belief that you will never let me
down in this business.

For your active participation,I have two options of compensating
you.Firstly you can choose to have 40% of the total money for your
assistance or you can go into partnership with me for the proper and
profitable investment of the entire money in your country in any lucrative
business you will advise me of and of course,the investment must be under
your direct management and supervision.As soon as the money has been
transferred into your account,I shall come to your country and meet you
face to face to work out the modalities of the investments.

Please notify me of your choice in your reply.I have also set aside 5% of
the total sum $16.5M for all kinds of expenses that may come our way in the
process of this transaction. Please note that this 5% for expenses is not
with me at the moment but shall be deducted from the money as soon as you
have received it in your account.

Be informed that this transaction is risk free as all modalities have been
put in place for a hitch-free transaction.

To commence this transaction,I require you to immediately indicate your
interest by a return e-mail to below mailing address:
4500torres@jmail.co.zaenclosing the following details:


1.Your full names and address.

2.Your private telephone and fax numbers .

3.Your Age and occupation.

I will discuss with you in details when I receive your response.

Thanks.
Moreno Torres.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam