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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "inheritance funds" (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)
  • ",000,000" (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: Important Message <actm230@msn.com>
Reply-To: <wilyjames@msn.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:43:08 +0000
Subject: Re: Plea For Urgent Help



James Willy
Chartered Accountant 201 Deansgate Manchester M60 2AT.

(Re: Transfer of £15,000,000 (Fifteen Million Pounds Sterling)

Please accept my sincere apology if my e-mail does not meet your business or personal ethics.
Let me start by introducing myself to you,I am James Willy,an Auditor in the Bank here in London,England.

During our Audit, I discovered an account,with holding balance of £15,000,000 (Fifteen Million Pounds Sterling) has been dormant and has not been operated on for many years now. From my investigations and confirmation, the owner of the said account, a foreigner by name John Shumejda died on a plane crash in Birmingham; you can view this CNN website http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/01/04/england.plane/for details on the crash.

Since then, nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money, as he has no family member that has any knowledge as to the existence of either the account or the funds;and also information from the National Immigration also states that he was single on entry into the UK.
I therefore propose a deal to you as a foreigner to stand as next of kin and the inheritor of the account,i will guide you and provide you with all the necessary information needed about the account in order to claim this funds.After due proceedure of inheritance funds claiming, the funds will be transfered to you.The Bank can only approve the Funds to any foreigner who will provide all the necessary information needed about the account for claiming.

I want to assure you that this transaction is totally risk free as the fund is legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act.

We shall discauss on the modalities,as soon as i hear from you. You can send me E-mail.

Thanks as i wait to hear from you.

Sincerely yours,

James Willy.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam