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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 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 email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: walter gibson <sibacz@iol.cz>
Reply-To: gibson_walteruk@live.com
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:34:43 GMT
Subject: Confidentiality Required........Business




Good Day to You,

though I have not considered this medium to be the best manner to have approached you on this issue being that the Internet has been greatly abused over the recent years and is very unsecured for in formations of vital importance. I have decided to take the chance seeing that no other means could have been faster and more efficient than the E-mail.I am Walter Gibson, Staff of Hamilton Direct Bank Limited. I am contacting you concerning a deceased customer and an investment he placed under our banks management five years ago to the tune of Fifty million united states dollars ($50, 000, 000, 00).I would respectfully request that you keep the contents of this mail confidential
and respect the integrity of the information you come by as a result of this mail.

I have been in charge of this department for six years and to best of my knowledge, I have discharged my duty with equity.In the process of review of the financial report by my department, I discovered that
both of you have a similar last name; hence I contacted you so that I can give you further briefing on my intention and how to disburse the funds and estate he left behind. My proposal; you share the same surname with our late client; I am prepared to
place you in a position to instruct the security Firm to release the deposit to you as
the closest surviving relation. Upon receipt of the deposit, I am prepared to share
the money with you in half. That is:
I will simply nominate you as the next of kin and have them release the deposit to
you. We share the proceeds 50/50.I ask that you do not destroy my chance, if you will not work with me let me know and
let me move on with my life but do not destroy me. I am a family man and this is an
opportunity to provide them with new opportunities. There is a reward for this project
and it is a task well worth undertaking.I will most welcome your prompt response via this email gibson_walteruk@live.com as
that would enable us to start something immediately.
Sincerely,
Walter Gibson

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam