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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
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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "may come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "chief auditor" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: <steveberth22@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:06:07 -0600
Subject: My Letter To You


Hello,

This letter may come to you as a surprise. I have been well assured by a mutual associate of your trustworthiness. I am STEVE BERTH, the Chief Auditor of a bank here in the UK, and by virtue of my appointment, I am privy to the most confidential and debated issue in the bank. It was therefore in the courseof our yearly overall assessments that the recurrence of the particular account file was brought before me.

Sometime in 2003, we lost one of our valued clients to cancer. Unfortunate though his death was a sad loose to most of us here in the bank as he is well known and liked as a result of his successful and consistent banking operations with us. However, since the death of late Mr. Michael Anderson,in 2003 no one has come forward for the claim of his personal lodgment with us which runs into (M13.1) Thirteen Million One Hundred Thousand US dollars. This amount is presently in a suspense account with the bank and if no claim is put forward by a next of kin, the fund will be finally deposited inthe government treasury as government funds. It is as a result of this, I deemed it necessary to contact you so we may collectively secure this funds for our benefits.

I will give you the bank's customer care desk number to confirm this amount upon your response.

Steve Berth

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam