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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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million us 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)
  • ",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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
  • "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• 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.
  • kevin004wadada@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Kevin Wadada <kevin004wadada@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: kevin00wadada@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:16:15 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: good day


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: kevin004wadada@yahoo.com



- Dear Friend, I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On December 6th, 2005, an American Cocoa merchant/consultant, Mr. Bob Thomas made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months valued at $14,000,000.00(Fourteen million US dollars) at my branch. Upon maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder. Eventually, we discovered from his contract employer that Mr. Thomas had died. Further investigations conducted by me indicated that he neither left a WILL nor a contactable next of kin or a relation in his entire official document, including his bank deposit information with us. This amount is still available in my branch, and rolls over with interest every year. Nobody has and will ever come forward to claim this money. According to our Country's Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, this money will be reverted to the Ownership of the Government, which in turn will end up in the hands of some very corrupt and unscrupulous Government Officials. Consequently, my proposal is that, I will like you to stand in as his next of kin, so that this old man's fruit of labor does not get into the hands of uncaring Government Officials. There are legions of less privileged people all over the world for whom a meal is like paradise. I feel that other than allowing this money to disappear, it will be more useful and beneficial to give it out to charitable Organizations. I need your assistance as an foreigner to stand in as his next of kin and claim this money. The process is simple. According to my enquiries from attorneys, all that is required to claim this money is a letter of ADMINISTRATION from the probate registry of the Federal High Court. An attorney will apply with your name as his next of kin. A letter of administration will be issued within Ten (10) working days. This letter will enable the attorney apply to claim this money on your behalf, which would then be transferred to you into a foreign account which you will provide. I wish to point out that I want 40% of this money to be shared among the charity Organizations, while the remaining 60% is shared equally between us. This proposition is entirely risk free. A good attorney would provide expert services while I will use my position in the bank to guarantee the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please contact me via my email address Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand this transaction well. Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be profitable for both of us. I will also require your assistance towards investing my share in your Country. I look forward to your anticipated cooperation. Sincerely, Kevin Wadada

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam