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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "into your nominated bank 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 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: SOLOMON CHOSEN <solomonchosenn30@msn.com>
Reply-To: <solomonchosen001@jmail.co.za>
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:09:25 +0000
Subject: VERY IMPORTANT/URGENT





ATTENTION DEAR FRIEND.

YOUR INHERITANCE PAYMENT CLAIM, 1ST QUARTER PAYMENT(2009). THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT YOUR OVER DUE INHERITANCE CLAIM WITH OUR BANK IS TO BE RELEASED, VIA KEY TESTED TRANSFER (KTT) WIRE TRANSFER TO YOU THROUGH OUR AFFILIATE BANK IN NIGERIA.IT IS PERTINENT TO NOTE THAT AN ISSUE OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD HAVE COMMENCED WITH A FORMAL MEETING,BUT DUE TO THE TIME FACTOR AND THE URGENCY
THIS MATTER REQUIRES,PLEASE BEAR WITH ME FOR MAKING THE INITIAL CONTACT THROUGH E-MAIL. MEANWHILE, A MAN WITH BRITISH PASSPORT NUMBER 3028882234 CAME TO MY OFFICE FEW DAYS AGO WITH A LETTER,CLAIMING TO BE YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE.HERE ARE THE MAN'S INFORMATIONS BELLOW:
NAME: DENIS MARION
BANK NAME: CITI BANK
BANK'S BRANCH: ARIZONA, USA.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 6503809008.
PLEASE,DO RE-CONFIRM TO THIS OFFICE ,AS A MATTER OF URGENCY IF THIS MAN IS FROM YOU,SO THAT THIS OFFICE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THIS INHERITANCE INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT.
IF THIS MAN IS NOT YOUR TRUE REPRESENTATIVE, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FILL AND RETURN THIS INFORMATION FOR VERIFICATION PURPOSES SO THAT YOUR INHERITANCE CLAIM VALUED US$12 MILLION DOLLARS ONLY WILL BE REMITTED INTO YOUR NOMINATED BANK ACCOUNT. THIS FUND IS AS A RESULT OF INHERITANCE ON YOUR BEHALF DEPOSITED BY AN AMERICAN WHO DIED SOMETIME AGO.

1. YOUR NAME:................................
2. YOUR ADDRESS:.............................
3. YOUR TELEPHONE ...........................
5. AGE.......................................
6. SEX:......................................
7. YOUR OCCUPATION...........................
8. YOUR VALID BANK DETAILS:........................

AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THE ABOVE INFORMATION,WE SHALL COMMENCE WITH ALL
NECESSARY PROCEDURES IN OTHER TO TRANSFER THIS FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT
THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE/FOREIGN
OPERATIONS WHO HANDLES ALL FOREIGN INHERITANCE FUND.
WE SHALL PROCEED WITH THE PAYMENT DETAILS TO THE SAID MR DENIS MARION, IF WE DO NOT HEAR FROM YOU WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WORKING DAYS FROM TODAY THE FUND WILL BE REMITTED TO MR DENIS MARION AND THIS BANK WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.
BEST REGARDS.

DR SOLOMON CHOSEN
DIRECTOR REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT
WEMA BANK PLC
VERY IMPORTANT/URGENT

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam