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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)
  • "huge sum of money" (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: phillip dennis <phillip_dennis175@msn.com>
Reply-To: <phillipdennis444@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:35:20 +0000
Subject: AWAITING YOUR RESPONSE



Dear Friend,

My name is Mr. Phillip Dennis from 47 Vinters Avenue, Stevenageherts, United Kingdom. I am an attorney. On 4th January 2002,my client died in a horrible car crash with his wife and only daughter in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

As regards to his assets, he has the sum of $7,230,000 USD (Seven Million Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand United States Dollar) which he deposited in Intercontinental Bank Plc in Africa. Since his demise, his bank account has been unserviceable and dormant, his bank issued me a notification letter as his investment attorney to contact any of his relative to claim/inherit his money as his next of kin before February 2009,failure to do so, the huge sum of money will be confiscated into the bank’s treasury. All my perpetual efforts to contact any of his relative through the embassy and the media have proved abortive. I contacted you because you bear the same surname with my deceased client. I seek your full consent for you to claim these funds as his next of kin and receive the money in your bank account.


After the successful transfer of the money to your bank account, you are entitled to take 40% while 60% is for me. I am in possession of the funds deposit certificate which will be used to back up your claim, be rest assured that this claim is legal and within the confines of international laws of claims/inheritance. I hope that the money will be intact in your bank account until I come to your country for my own share after the successful wire transfer. If you are willing to conclude this legitimate transaction with me, kindly get back to me with your contact telephone number for easy and effective communication.

Regards,
Mr. Phillip Dennis

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam