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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:
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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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "this business is hitch free " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "JAMES ANDERSON" <james28@torba.com>
Reply-To: jamesanderson2001@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:03:21 +0100
Subject: LETTER OF INTENT,


*FROM MR. JAMES ANDERSON.*

*HEAD OF INTERNAL AUDITOR *

*BARCLAYS BANK PLC,*

*LONDON**, **UNITED KINGDOM**. *

* *

*DEAR FRIEND, *

* *

*MY NAME IS MR. JAMES ANDERSON., HEAD OF INTERNAL AUDITOR BARCLAYS BANK PLC,
I AM WRITING IN RESPECT OF A FOREIGN CUSTOMER OF OUR BANK MR. JONATHAN LEE
MCCARTY WITH ACCOUNT NUMBER 14-255-2004/BBPLC/123-99 WHO PERISHED IN AN
AUTO-CRASH IN **15TH OCTOBER 2004**. *

* *

*SINCE THE DEMISE OF THIS OUR CUSTOMER, I PERSONALLY HAS WATCHED WITH KEEN
INTEREST TO SEE THE NEXT OF KIN BUT ALL HAS PROVED ABORTIVE AS NO ONE HAS
COME TO CLAIM HIS FUNDS OF US$18.5M (EIGHTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
UNITED STATES DOLLARS), WHICH HAS BEEN WITH OUR BRANCH FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
*

* *

*ON THIS NOTE, I DECIDED TO SEEK FOR WHOM HIS NAME SHALL BE USED AS THE NEXT
OF KIN AS NO ONE HAS COME UP TO BE THE NEXT OF KIN, THE BANKING ETHICS HERE
DOES NOT ALLOW SUCH MONEY TO STAY MORE THAN FOUR YEARS, BECAUSE MONEY WILL
BE RECALLED TO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED AFTER THIS PERIOD. *

* *

*IN VIEW OF THIS, I DECIDED TO SEEK THROUGH INTERNET WHOM TO CONFINE IN FOR
THIS TRANSACTION. I SEEK YOUR CONSENT TO PRESENT YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO
THE DECEASED. *

* *

*SO THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THIS ACCOUNT VALUED AT $18.5 MILLION DOLLARS CAN BE
PAID INTO YOUR ACCOUNT FOR SHARING AT RATIO OF 50% IS FOR ME AND 40% IS FOR
YOU, WHILE 10% SHOULD BE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF INCIDENTAL EXPENSES THAT MAY
BE INCURRED DURING THE TRANSACTION OR TAX AS YOUR GOVERNMENT MAY REQUIRE. *

* *

*I WILL NOT FAIL TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THIS BUSINESS IS HITCH FREE
SAFE AND LEGAL. WE HAVE TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY WHO WILL PROTECT YOU LEGALLY,
AND FOR BENEFIT OF DOUBT POSITION YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN AND BENEFICIARY,
THAT YOU SHOULD NOT ENTERTAIN ANY FEAR AS ALL MODALITIES FOR FUND TRANSFER
CAN BE FINALIZED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *

* *

*WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER, KINDLY SEND ME AN E-MAIL ON THIS MAILBOX
INCLUDING YOUR MOST CONFIDENTIAL TELEPHONE/FAX NUMBERS AND YOUR FULL NAME/
HOUSE ADDRESS, YOUR OCCUPATION / AGE FOR QUICK COMMUNICATION. *

* *

*THANKS AND REGARDS,*

*MR. JAMES ANDERSON.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam