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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "huge deposit" (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)
  • "contact me immediately" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: GREGG LIEB <gregglieb2@msn.com>
Reply-To: <kingszu1@volny.cz>
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 17:36:01 +0000
Subject: HELLO MY DEAR



My Dear,I am Mr GREGG LIEB; I trained and work as an external auditor forRand Merchant Bank (RMB) South Africa, working as part of a bigger teamthat covers the entire South Africa region.An investor (name with-held) died without naming a next of kin to hisfund in my bank. The amount is $50m and banking regulation/legislationin South-Africa demands that I notify the fiscal authorities after threeyears. The above set of facts underscores my reason to seek your permissionto have you stand as the next of kin to the deceased. This funds willbe approved and release in your favor as the next of kin if only youwill adhere to my instruction and cooperate with me in one accord.The truth of the whole issue is that an Iranian Oil Merchant,under ChevronOil died in the building collapse incident of Lou'lo'at al-Kheir hotelin Mecca of which 74 occupants of the building unfortunately lost theirlives during 2006 Hajj after making a huge deposit of USD50m.in my bank.While he was I alive, I maintained the account for his transactions.I have all the legal details of the deceased that will facilitate ourputting you forward as the claimant/beneficiary of the funds and ultimatelytransfer of the $50m.Consequently, my proposal is that I will like youas a Foreigner to stand in as the next of kin of the funds depositedin my bank. I am writing you because I as a public servant, I cannotoperate a foreign account.The proceeds of this account valued at $50m can be paid to you and thenyou and I can share the money, 50% for me and 40% for you and 10% formiscellaneous expenses that might arise. I would want you to understandthat this is a DEAL.Do contact me immediately whether or not you are interested in this deal.If you are not, it will enable me scout for another foreign partnerto carry out this deal. But where you are interested, contact me onlythrough my private email address for more details as time is ofthe essence in this business.Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that thistransaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shallrequire your assistance to invest my share in real estate within yourcountry.Due to the nature of confidentiality in this Transaction our communicationcan only be mostly via email. Awaiting your urgent reply.Thanks and my regards.GREGG LIEB

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam