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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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 united states 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: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 08:59:38 +0100
Subject: Re:-Help


*Dear Friend,*

*My name is Mr.Samuelson Moore, Attorney and financial adviser to late
(Mr.Adams Anton) Prior to his unexpected death in 7Th July,2005 in Bomb
blast that exploded in Train Station In UK,Europe.He deposited the sum of
money USD20Million(Twenty million United States dollars) with a financial
institution/Security Company.*
**
*Unfortunately, he died in the bomb blast incidence and since his death we
have not heard nor receive info. from anybody for the claims as the next of
kin.*
**
*A situation I have monitored closely with the financial
institution/security company.*
*Now having monitored this deposit and managed it over the years before his
death and nobody has showed up as the next of kin for the past years,i
decided to seeks your help to receive the sum.*
**
*Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I shall seek your consent
to be presented as the next of Kin so that my late client's funds will not
be confiscated by authority. I propose a sharing formula of 50/50% if you
will agree to stand in as the next of kin and have the funds deposited into
any account or moved to you in your Country.*
*This does not have any risk attached to it as the entire documents required
for claims will be obtained legally.*
**
*I therefore request you to confirm your interest by a return message and I
will furnish you with details and more information on how to go about the
claim of the deposit from the financial institution appropriately and in
accordance with law of the land.*
**
*Full Names:--------------------------------
Country Of Origin:-------------------------
Age/Sex:-----------------------------------
Occupation Or Profession:------------------
Tel/Fax Numbers:---------------------------*
*I wait for your response with contact details.*

*Sincerely Yours,*
*Mr. Samuelson Moore.*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam