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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "jack marcarty" <jack20@onlinesa.bravehost.com>
Reply-To: jackmarcarty@hotmail.com
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:00:04 -0700
Subject: FROM MR.J.Z MARCARTY


From: Mr. Jack Marcarty
Accounts Department
Development Bank
Tel: 27 78 686 9410
Fax: 27 86 600 6596


ATTN: Sir/Madam


I am Mr. Jack Marcarty, a staff of AD Bank of South Africa {ADB}. I have
urgent and very confidential business proposal for you. An American Gold
consultant/contractor with the South African Solid Gold Corporation, Mr. W.
Ali. Bryant made a numbered time Deposit for twenty calendar months, valued
at (Fourteen Million Five Hundred Thousand U.S. dollars) in my branch. 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 employers, the South African Solid Gold Corporation that Bryant
died in a plane crash in Alaska Airlines Flight 261 On further
investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL and all
attempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless.


I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. W Ali did not
declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his
Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$14,500,000.00 is still
sitting in our 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 Laws of Republic OF SOUTH AFRICA, at the expiration of 7
(Seven) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the
South African Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently,
my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next
of kin to Mr. A. Bryant 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.


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 60%
for me and 40% for you. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for
this transaction will be done by the attorney and my position as a prominent
official of ADB guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If
you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email address
above. 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 fax numbers for easy communication.
Please observe utmost confidentiality, and 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. Awaiting your urgent
reply.


You can contact me at all times.


Best Regards

Jack Marcarty

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam