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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "will come to you as a surprise" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "transfer into your account" (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)
  • "million british 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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is highly confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • official5@rocketmail.com
  • tracyhopeprivate_2008@hotmail.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: STANDARD CHARTERED BANK LONDON <official5@rocketmail.com>
Reply-To: tracyhopeprivate_2008@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:47:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Internet Banking: 1 New Message on 12/12/08


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: official5@rocketmail.com



- FROM THE DESK OF THE BANK MANAGER STANDARD CHARTERED BANK LONDON, UK. I want to make two things clear before moving forward. I am not asking you for any money; neither should you think that this is a scam. All I seek from you is your honesty and sincerity in a business deal that’s going to bring fort mutual benefit worth 28.5 Million British Pounds (GBP). In order to transfer out 28.5 Million British Pounds (GBP) from STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, UK. I have the courage to ask for your assistance to handle this important and confidential business believing that you will never let me down either now or in future because it is highly confidential and secret. I am Miss. Tracy Hope; a MANAGER in STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, UK. There is an account opened in this bank in 1990 and since year 2000 nobody has operated on this account again. After going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing or reverted into the selfish government purse. The owner of this account was Late Engr. Hassan Mohammed, a foreigner, and an Engineer with MOHAS Engineering Co., and he died since year 2000. No other person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that his company does not know anything about this account and the amount involved is 28.5 Million British Pounds (GBP). I want to transfer the 28.5 Million British Pounds (GBP). into a safe foreigner's account abroad, but I do not know any foreigner. I know that this message will come to you as a surprise as we do not know ourselves before, but be sure that it is real and a genuine business as I have put in place the necessary logistics that will ensure a hitch free transfer into your account upon your acceptance. I only got your contact address from my secretary who operates computer with believe in God that you will never let me down in this business. You are the only person that I have contacted in this business, so please reply urgently so that I will inform you the next step to take urgently. Send also your private telephone and fax number for urgent communication. I would have liked us to meet face to face but as a bank top civil servant, I am not allowed by law of the land to travel outside the country for now. Kindly assist me so that you can receive this money in a foreign account or any account of your choice where the fund will be safe. I need your full co-operation to make this work fine because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information of this account, which I will give to you immediately, if you are able and capable to handle such amount in strict confidence and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual benefit because this opportunity you know hardly comes every time. I need truthful person in this business because I do not want to make mistake and your strong assurance and trust are equally needed. With my position now in the office I can transfer this money to any foreigner's reliable account, which you can provide with assurance that this money will be intact pending my physical arrival in your country for sharing and I want to remind you that your share has been calculated at 40% of the total sum. I want to tell you that this transaction is 100% risk free and legal because all the documents that will back up this transaction will be available, so that no body will question the fund when it is finally transferred into your account. I am waiting for your urgent reply so that I will give you more information about this transaction through my private email: tracyhopeprivate_2008@hotmail.co.uk or hopeville@ldsliving.com Regards and God bless. Miss Tracy Hope.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam