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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.

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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 sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "million 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)
  • "million british 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)
  • "keep it 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)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "donald pedro" <peddon0061@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2008 14:55:48 +0400
Subject: hellow


Dear SIR/MADAM,
PRIVATE AND URGENT I am Mr. DONALD PEDRO, Director,one of the apex bank I
am contacting you with regards to a business transfer for a huge sum of
money from a deceased clients dormant account. Though I know that a
transaction of this magnitude will make any one apprehensive and worried,
but I am assuring you that this transaction is being handled by me and my
colleagues, who are also departmental heads in the same bank. We decided to
contact you due to the urgency of this transaction. PROPOSITION: During the
banks first quarter audit, we discovered in a dormant account, the sum of
BPS 15,000,000.00 (Fifteen Million British pounds sterlings). These funds
belongs to one of our foreign customer and private investor, the late MR.
MORRIS THOMPSON who died while on holiday with his wife and two children on
the Indonesian Air Crash of 1st Jan 2007. Since his death, No next-of-kin or
any relations has come forward to lay claims to this money. The fund can
only be release from his account if someone applies for claims as the
next-of-kin. This is due to our banking protocols and guidelines. Upon this
discovery, we now seek your permission to have you stand as a next of kin to
the deceased as all documentations will be carefully worked out by us for
the funds BPS 15,000,000.00 to be released in your favour as the deceased
and beneficiary's next of kin. It may interest you to note that we have
secured from the probate an order of mandamus to locate any of deceased
beneficiaries. Please acknowledge receipt of this message in acceptance of
our mutual business endeavour by furnishing me with the following; 1. Your
Personal and contact details that we can use for this transaction
(Discreet).2. Direct and Personal Telephone and fax numbers.3. Copy of a
Photo Identification (This is will be use for identification during the
transaction) These requirements will enable us file a letter of claim to the
appropriate departments for necessary approvals in your favour before the
transfer can be made. We shall be compensating you with US3 Million Dollars
on final conclusion of this project. Your part of the money stays with you
while the rest shall be for us, and for investment purposes. If you find
yourself capable of working with me, . Since, they are systematically and
periodically monitored to assess our level of customer care and most
importantly, of our position in the Bank. Check on the web link for further
details about the deseaced:
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list/
Please observe this instruction with the utmost care. I send you this letter
not without a measure of fear because of my work as to what the consequences
may be if you do not keep it confidential, but I know within me that nothing
ventured is nothing gained and that success and riches never come easy or on
a platter of gold. If this proposal is acceptable by you, do not take undue
advantage of the trust we have bestowed in you, I await your swift response
by mail or a Phone call. Yours Truly, Mr. Donald Pedro.Director, of one of
the apex bank

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam