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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • +2348064615108 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • franklinjones3@hotmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Mr. Franklin Jones" <dasanche@itesm.mx>
Reply-To: franklinjones3@hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:00:59 +0800
Subject: NEXT OF KIN.

Mr.Franklin Jones PhD (UNN)
Orient Bank (Nig) Plc
Victoria Island, Lagos
Tel: +234 806 461 5108
E-mail: franklinjones3@hotmail.com

I am an accountant with ORIENT BANK PLC; my name is Mr.Franklin Jones a Banker.
I am the Accounts Manager to ENGINEER Barry, a National of your country,
who is a contractor with the DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES VICTORIA ISLAND,
LAGOS.

On January 30, 2000, my client, his wife, and three children were involved
in the Kenya airways flight with registration number 5Y-BEN which departed
from Nairobi to destination Lagos and they all family died in this fatal
air crash On January 30, Since then I have made several inquiries to your
embassy to locate any of my clients extended Relatives, this has also proved
unsuccessful.

After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to locate any member
of his family hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist in repatriating
the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated
or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged,
particularly the ORIENT BANK PLC. Where the deceased had an account Valued
at ($2.5 million U.S Dollars) has issued me a notice to provide the next
of kin. Or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working
days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 6 years
now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased
all I require is your honest cooperation to enable us seeing this deal through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you and me from any breach of the law.

Best regards,
Mr.Franklin Jones.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam