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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)
  • "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)
  • "transaction is risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Victor Garry <victorfarry01@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: victorgarry01@strompost.org
Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:33:12 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Reply Very Urgent


Dear Friend,=20
=A0
I am contacting you in respect of our late customer, Mr. Mike D.Williams. T=
he Regional contractor with Nospecto Oil and Gas Limited. He died in an aut=
o crash on May 4th, 2001 with his wife and two children. Before his death, =
He deposited the sum of US$9.5M (Nine Million, Five Hundred Thousand United=
States Dollars) in his account with our Bank. All my efforts to locate his=
legitimate relations or next of kin as his account officer since he died h=
as been unsuccessful as he did not mention any in all the documents he tend=
ered to our Bank.
=A0
As the account officer, I have the official mandate by the management of th=
e bank to present the beneficiary next of kin to late Mr. Mike Williams wit=
hin fourteen (14) banking working days or the fund will be diverted to the =
treasury as unclaimed deposit. It is on the strength of this mandate that I=
solicit for your permission by using your name as the beneficiary next of =
kin to late Mr. Williams and transfer this money into your bank account bef=
ore the time given to me elapses. I have all the legal documents that can b=
e used to back up this claim in your favour and protect you from any breach=
of the law.
=A0
You will be compensated with 30% of this fund for your assistance, 20% will=
be set aside for expenses that may be incurred in the course of this trans=
action while you keep 50% safely for me pending my retirement from active s=
ervice. This transaction is risk free, strictly private and must be treated=
with utmost confidentiality.
=A0
Please contact me through the above email address with your telephone and f=
ax numbers indicating your acceptance of this offer. Further information's =
regarding to this transaction will be communicated to you on receipt of you=
r response. Please expedite action.
=A0
Sincerely yours,=20
Victor Garry,=20
Customer Services,
Union Bank Plc.=0A=0A=0A

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam