419 Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam (2006-01)

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

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.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- ",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)
- "here in united kingdom" (this email uses bad English)
- "foreign payment department" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
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.
- maxwell_adamms@hotmail.com (Hotmail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: "MAXWELL D. ADAMS" <compensationdepartmentdesk07@yahoo.pt>
Reply-To: "MAXWELL D. ADAMS" <maxwelldavid_adams@hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2015 15:28:17 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: THIS MAIL IS NOT JUNK IN CASE IS IN SPAM (SHARE THIS OPPORTUNITY
WITH ME)

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â SHARE THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH ME
Re: Claim of My Partner Investment Company Fund Account / Deposit Number : 726J26549
Attn: Dear friend,My Name is Mr. Maxwell D. Adams, I am an auditor and deputy head of computing department of HSBC Co-operation Liverpool London Branch here in United Kingdom. There is an account opened in this bank in 2004 and after our third quarter auditing at HSBC on 9th Â January Â 2011 ,I then found this account and when I investigated deeply by contacting the assigned next of kin I also found that the next of kin to this account was anIndonesian who lived in London for over 63Yrs and nobody has operated on this account again after 2004.
I took the courage to look for a reliable and honest person who will be capable for this important transaction. In order to transfer out Â $35,000,000 (Thirty five million U.SDollars) After going through some old files, I discovered that if I do not Remit this money out urgently,it will be forfeited for nothing and the HSBC Bank Â management might divert the funds to their own accounts.
Please respond immediately I will use my position and influence to effect the legal approval and onward transfer of this fund into your account with appropriate clearance from foreign payment department. You will stand to get 40% while 60% will be for me. Kindly quote thereference (acct) numbers above when responding to this mail. I will clearly give you full details upon your reply. Please reply Â through my personal E-mail: maxwell_adamms@hotmail.com
Sincerely yours,Mr. Maxwell D. Adams

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam