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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:
  • "million united state 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)
  • ",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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "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)
  • "very 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)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "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.
  • dr.chesterphlip@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: philip chester <dr.chesterphlip@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: phlip2008@hotmail.com
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:14:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Sir, i am writing you from my private mail


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: dr.chesterphlip@yahoo.com



- Dear Sir, i am writing you from my private mail lam Dr.Philip Chester, a Manager with International commercial Bank ICB here in Accra Ghana , I am also a former accountent trustee to one of our Late customer,an American Business Man (MR.JOHNSON-HEINZ CREEK) I have urgent and very confidential business Proposes for you.I got your contact from the Ghana Business/Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In January 2005, an American Business man(MR.JOHNSON-HEINZ CREEK) made a numbered-time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months valued at US$7,000, 000.00 (Seven Million United State Dollars) in a Domiciliary Account in my branch. Upon maturity, I sent a routine notification of Account Status to his forwarding address but got no reply,After Three months we sent a reminder of same letter and finally we discovered from his contract employees his Company's branch in Accra Ghana,that MR.JOHNSON-HEINZ CREEK died in an auto car crash along an express way here in TEMA High MOTOR WAY which involves all his entire loving children with his wife,May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. After further investigation, I found out that he leave a will and all attempts to trace his Next-of-kin were fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that MR.JOHNSON-HEINZ CREEK Leave a will in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit Papers. This sum of US$7,000,000.00 is still floating in our Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal amount and our banking law here situplate that at the end of 5years. if No one would come forward to claim the money it will declare unclaim and retune to the government, note again that According to our Ghana Banking Law, at the expiration of 5 (Five ) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Ghana Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Consequent upon the above, my proposal is that I would like you as a foreigner to stand in as the Next-of-kin to the Late MR.JOHNSON-HEINZ CREEK.I will quickly work out the full documentation and transfer the US$7m into your nominated account anywhere.You would be fully rewarded when the money has been transferd to any of your nominated bank account of your choice. Send me your reply to thisrequest by my email address and I shall give you more details promptly. Best Regards, Dr Philip Chester

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam