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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
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• 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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "=?utf-8?q?Dr.Matthew=20Peter?=" <drmatthewpet1@yahoo.com.ve>
Reply-To: drmatthew100_peter@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 17:09:03 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: PLEASE GET BACK TO ME IF INTERESTED


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:drmatthewpet1@yahoo.com.ve

PLEASE GET BACK TO ME IF INTERESTED

- COMPLIMENT OF THE SEASON, Dear Friend, Despite the fact that we are not acquainted with each other, I feel I can take the liberty of addressing you on the basis of universal brotherhood with respect to a matter I feel is of mutual interest to us.Permit me therefore to offer you my most sincere greetings and wish you well. This contact is a manifestation of many years of fervent prayers and supplications to the most high God.I am an Accountant by profession; I worked with Barclays bank Ghana as a regional branch manager for 15 years diligently and passionately. I have urgent and very confidential business proposal for you. On June 6, 2005,an American Oil consultant/contractor with the Ghana electricity plc, Mr. Barry Kelly made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$10,500,000.00 (Ten million, Five hundred 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 contractn employers, Ghana electricity plc that Mr.Barry Kelly died from an automobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Barry Kelly did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,including his bank deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of U $10,500,000.00 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 Ghana law, at the expiration of 5(five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Ghana Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you to stand in, as the next of kin to Mr.Barry Kelly so that the fruits of this old man's labour 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 which will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the service of two attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favour for the transfer. A Bank account in any part of the world which 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 the Branch Manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please contact me as soon as possible via email for further directive. Best Regard. Dr.Matthew Peter

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam