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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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 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)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • danchn00@yahoo.com.sg

Fraud email example:

From: "Marvin Carmichael" <marvincarmichael@firstteam.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 08:21:19 -0700
Subject: Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,

My name is Mr.Daniel Chin, a credit officer to the AFC Merchant Bank. There is this FUNDS in my firm (Nine Million British Pounds) precisely, belonging to one of our clients whom I reliably knew died a year ago on an automobile accident with his family. His next of kin was the son (Winnie Lawrence) who was only 14 years old as at when he was the next of kin before he died along with his father and the entire family on a visit to a friend's wedding ceremony.

My bank is not aware of this. If they get to know before action, the FUNDS shall be reverted as unclaimed FUNDS as usual, since the owner died along with his family. I am really against this act, as i would not want this FUNDS to be automatically turned a property to my bank who never laboured for them, instead i convert them to mine and do justice with the FUNDS. So please don't take me for somebody bad, its just what you would do if you where in my shoes. Hence i am writing to you as a foreigner to please allow me put you forward as the next of kin (beneficiary) and have this money transferred out of my bank in your name to another bank with same TELEX TRANSFER SYSTEM (TTS) with my bank, then we have the FUNDS sheared 50/50 between you and I. All the paper works and documentation shall be handled by me as the account officer to this deceased customer and the service of a reputable attorney i shall employ to give us the legal back-up to all our proceedings and get the money transferred in your name out of my bank. So be rest assured that this transaction is risk free and you absolutely have nothing to loose.

I will want this to remain between you and I until everything works out as planned. I shall tender my resignation letter as soon as we succeed, i would not want to retire with any trace of embezzlement and corruption. I shall also seek your advise on getting my shear of the money invested in your country base on your advise.

Do reach me soon with your suggestion and interest VIA my private Email below, as you can see, time is not on ourside. Feel free to notify me on any area you may find difficult to understand in my above email to you, if cleared, notify me of your interest so that i tell you what next step we have to begin with.

Thanks and God Bless You
Mr. Daniel Chin.
Private Email: danchn00@yahoo.com.sg

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam