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

Fraud email example:

From: John Maxwell <mraa_aa2@msn.com>
Reply-To: <sitegod@myway.com>
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:43:40 +0000
Subject: REPLY ME NOW







Good Day!

With due respect, trust and humanity, I write this letter to you seeking your help and assistance, though it is difficult since we have not met before In London regarding your business profile and sincerity, I beleive that you are capable and reliable in handling this urgent International transaction of this soft.Mr.John Maxwell Is My Name, an Auditor with Anglo Irish Bank,here in London,England.

During our last Audit, I discovered that one of our accounts with holding balance of £52,000,000 (FifTy Two Million British Pounds) has been dormant and last operated Four years ago. From my investigations and confirmation, the owner of the account,is a foreigner by name Mr. Donald A. Peterson died on the 4th of January 2004 in a plane crash that occurred in Birmingham here in UK.

Since then, nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money, as he has no family member that has any knowledge as to the existence of either the account or the funds and also Information from the National Immigration also states that he was single on
entry into UK.

I have confidently discussed this issue with some of the bank officials and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. We therefore propose to do business with you, standing in as the next of kin of these funds from the deceased and funds released to you immediately after due processes have been followed.

This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act.

On your interest, let me hear from you,

Regards,
Mr.John Maxwell.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam