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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:
  • "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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "DR.ALAN WHO" <alanwho2@gmail.com>
Reply-To: alanwho47@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:40:03 +0100
Subject: URGENT(Reply Asap)


*Dear Friend,

I humbly crave your indulgence in sending you this mail,if the contents
does not meet with your personal and business ethics,I appologise in
advance. this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly"CONFIDENTIAL AND
TOP SECRET". Though I know that a transaction of this magnitude will make
any one apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that all will be
well at the end of the day.I have decided to contact you due to the urgency
of this transaction,as I have been reliable informed of your discreteness
and ability in transaction of this nature. Let me start first,introduce
myself properly to you.

I am Dr.Alan Who, of Dept of Bill and Exchange with the Barclays Bank London
Annex. I need your consent to handle this transaction because it entails
large amount of funds($6.5 Million Dollars) deposited by a deceased customer
in our bank who died long time ago but has an open beneficiary mandate on
his file though,there has not been anyone from his family to make claim of
this funds but i am sure he has no immediate family because i have tried all
i could to contact them but to no avail. THE PROPOSITION: I wish to know if
we can work together.I would like you to stand as next of kin to my deceased
client, who was among the people that lost their life in Egypt air crash
1999 ,some years ago with the wife.
He made some deposits to my bank,and died without any registered next of kin
and as such the funds now have an open beneficiary mandate.More over it
appears you are related to him by the virtue of your names.If you are
interested you do let me know so that I can give you comprehensive details
on what we are to do. I urgently hope to get your response.
Best regards,
Dr.Dr.Alan Who.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam