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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)
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "to your nominated bank account" (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)
  • "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)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • liu_yan1956@yahoo.com.hk

Fraud email example:

From: Ahmad Alshyyab <alshyyab@hu.edu.jo>
Reply-To: enogie4gs@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:03:47 -0700
Subject: Reply ASAP.





Dear Friend,
This letter might surprise you because we have never meet before neither in person nor by correspondence, but I believe that it takes just one day to meet or know someone either physically or through correspondence.

I got your contact through my personal search, you were revealed as being quite astute in private entrepreneurship, and one has no doubt in your ability to handle a financial business transaction.

I am Liu Yan a transfer supervisor operations in investment section in Bank of China Ltd. Secretariat of the BOCHK Charitable Foundation 13/F. Bank of China Tower, 1 Garden Road, Hong Kong I have an obscured business suggestion for you.

Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client General Mohammed Jassim Ali who work with the Iraqi forces and also business man made a numbered fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of Nineteen million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars only in my branch,Upon maturity several notices was sent to him, even early in the war.

Again after the war another notification was sent and still no response came from him, We later find out that General Mohammed Jassim Ali and his family had been killed during the war in a bomb blast that hit their home.

After further investigation it was also discovered that General Mohammed Jassim Ali did not declare any next of kin in his official papers including the paper work of his bank deposit, And he also confided in me the last time he was at my office that no one except me knew of his deposit in my bank. So, Nineteen million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars is still lying in my bank and no one will ever come forward to claim it.

What bothers me most is that, according to the laws of my country at the expiration 3 years the funds will revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Against this backdrop, my suggestion to you is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the next of kin to General Mohammed Jassim Ali so that you will be able to receive his funds.

I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we shall come out successful, I have contacted an attorney that will prepare the necessary document that will back you up as the next of kin to General Mohammed Jassim Ali. all what is required from you at this stage is for you to provide me with your FULL NAMES:__________________
ADDRESS: ____________________
CITY:_________________________
STATE:_______________________ZIP: ______________
COUNTRY_______________
SEX:_______________
AGE:__________________
MARITAL STATUS:___________
OCCUPATION:_________________
E-MAIL ADDRESS:_____________________
CELLPHONE NUMBER:_____________________
TELEPHONE NUMBER:______________________

so that the attorney can commence his job.

After you have been made the next of kin, the attorney will also fill in for claims on your behalf and secure the necessary approval and letter of probate in your favor for the transfer of the funds to an account that will be provided by you with my guidiance.
There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we are going adopt a legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary documents, Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this issue.

Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account we shall discuss the percentage issue on your reply,and finally after that I shall provide you with more details of this operation,Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.N:B Please make sure you contact me on my private email :< liu_yan1956@yahoo.com.hk >

Kind Regards
Liu Yan

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam