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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "because it still remains the fastest medium of communication" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • "i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <bencole447@yahoo.com.vn>
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 04:12:15 +0000
Subject: Attn:



Attn:
RE: TRANSFER OF [£36,759,000.00 MILLION POUNDS TO YOUR ACCOUNT].
My name is Ben Cole.I work in the International Operation Department in a Bank here in London.I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business. Though, this medium (Internet)has been greatly abused.I choose to reach you through it because it still remains the fastest medium of communication.I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of my bank who perished with his whole families on 25TH JULY,2000 in CONCORDE PLANE CRASH [Flight AF4590] with the whole passengers aboard.There’s a domiciliary account opened in our bank in 1998 by this great late INDUSTRIALIST who died without a written or oral 'WILL' attached to the account.Since his death,i personally have watched with keen interest to see the next of kin but all has proved Abortive,sequel to the fact that no one has come to claim this funds and no other person knows about this account or anything concerning it.
We wish to transfer the fund in this account out of the country and the total amount involved is (THIRTY SIX MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE THOUSAND POUNDS STERLINGS ONLY).The bank management will approve this money to any foreigner with the correct information of the account because the former operator of the a/c is a foreigner.In view of this I need your assist by providing a foreign bank account for the transfer because the deceased is a foreigner.It can be an empty account provided it is still active to receive such amount of money.I will provide all necessary information and legal document needed in order to claim this money hoping in God that you will never let me down now or in the future.
Waiting for your urgent and positive reply.
Yours Faithfully,
Ben Cole.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam