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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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.

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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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)
  • "% will be for you" (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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "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 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.
  • +447045763344 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "MR.ANDREW WOLLEY" <andrew_q010@msn.com>
Reply-To: <private_andrewwolley004@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:39:39 +0000
Subject: INQUIRY FROM ANDREW WOLLEY



From Mr. Andrew WolleyAddress:93 Rosendale Road, London, SE21 8EZ Occupations: International Remittance {Director}Private Contact Mobile Cell: +447045763344Private Contact Fax No:+448715039937 Attention: Sir/Madam,Compliment of the New Day, My name is Mr.Andrew Wolley, The Director International Remittance of Citi bank london. I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On October 1999, Mr. Morris Thompson chief executive officer of Doyon Ltd. Fairbanks, made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for six calendar months, valued at £15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million Pounds Sterling) in my branch, which he intend to invest in Estate Management in Malaysia. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employer, Doyon Ltd that he died in plane crash.

On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL and all attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless. For more details please see the below link http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/ .
I therefore made further investigation and discovered that he did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank.
This sum of £15,000,000.00 Pounds is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Banking Laws of England, at the expiration of 8 (eight) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the British Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you stand as the next of kin to the decease customer, so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 55% for me,40% will be for you,5% will be for the charitable organization.
There is no risk involved at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by an attorney and my position as the Director International Remitting guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please send me your confidential telephone number for easy communication.

Kindly observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country as I will be due for retirement next year.
Warm Regards,Mr. Andrew Wolley.Director, International Remittance Citi Bank London

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam