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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:
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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)
  • "million 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: mamasanou2@internet.lu
Date: Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:19:33 +0200
Subject: A Confidential Message From The Director of Customer Operations D ept, The International bank for Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Bur kina.

From Mamadou Sanou.
The Director of Customer Operations Dept,
The International bank for Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Burkina
Ouagadougou Burkina Faso


Dear Friend,

I am Mr. Mamadou SANOU, The Director of Customer Operations (BICIAB). There is a bank deceased costumer whom shares the same last name as yours, who died with his family in an auto-crash on one of the major roads here in my country Burkina Faso in November 12Th 2004. I have contacted you to assist in distributing the deceased money that left behind before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank. As it is legally stipulated by the government to financial institutions on any account that lingers dormant for more than four years should to be taken by the bank as an unclaimed bill. The total funds is valued at Four million Two hundred us-dollars (US$ 4.2million dollars). This bank has asked me to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated as it is approaching the end of the four years of dormancy.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and benefited beneficiary of the funds, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. I shall provide any document the bank might demand for the prove of your claim to release the funds to as the beneficiary.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential, whatever your decision, while I await your prompt response.I have created and attached a sperate email address for this guesture because i don't want to write through the bank server for security reasons.

Best regards,

Mr. Mamadou SANOU
The Director of Customer Operations.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam