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.
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
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.
- mcrean751@gmail.com (Gmail/GoogleMail; can be used from anywhere worldwide)

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?Q?=D0=A1=D1=82=D0=B0=D1=80=D1=88=D0=B8=D0=B9_=D0=B0=D0=B4?=
=?utf-8?Q?=D0=BC=D0=B8=D0=BD=D0=B8=D1=81=D1=82=D1=80=D0=B0=D1=82?=
=?utf-8?Q?=D0=BE=D1=80?= <markcrean@financehouse.ae>
Reply-To: mcrean70@gmail.com
Date: Thu, 21 May 2015 20:13:10 +0400
Subject: Business Proposal!

Attention:

I have obtained your email during my findings in Dubai, U.A.E business directories. Its interests me to have a review of your business for my consideration as I am search of a capable, sincere beneficiary to an outstanding secured fund in my financial house: The fund depositor: late Shaidat Al Suwaidi died 2012 after her fatal accident surgery of 2010. Considering my status and the confidentiality of this project, I am willing to appoint you as a legal beneficiary to an outstanding secured fund.

I will offer you 40% of the fund while the 60% will be kept for my future finance into a business opportunity after you recover the fund into your custody. If you are sincere to contain the fund to your possession then advise me with your interest and provide me with your full contact and personal information for immediate recovery proceedings.

Mark Crean
(Esq.,)
mailto: mcrean751@gmail.com

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This e-mail and any attachments may contain information which is confidential, privileged, proprietary or otherwise If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this message or any part of it. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and delete it from your computer.
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Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam