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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "contact me immediately" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +31649214989 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: HUIBERT BOUMEESTER <huibertboumeest@netscape.net>
Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 05:59:54 -0500
Subject: CAN I TRUST YOU ?

FROM THE DESK OF HUIBERT BOUMEESTER
MANAGING BOARD DIRECTOR
ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS
TELEPHONE: +31 64 921 4989

 

Dear Beloved Custodian,

I am writing to convey my condolences upon the passing away of former Premier Mr. Zhao Ziyang who had a fixed time deposit with our bank. This is to officially inform you that you have been chosen as the custodian/ benefactor to a huge sum of money 15,500,000.00 Euros (Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Euros) deposited with the ABN AMRO BANK NETHERLANDS. I am Huibert Boumeester, one of the Managing Board Director of the ABN AMRO BANK and I saw your contact during my private search in the internet as the bank Directors has given me the mandate to produce the next of kin to the funds within a stipulated time.

Mr. Zhao Ziyang was one of our most valuable customers before his sudden death on 17th January 2005. He died of cardio-vascular respiratory problem at a Beijing hospital in China. I have been given a specific time and date to come up with his next of kin or the funds will be declared unclaimed and channeled to an unknown account. It is based on this that I have contacted you to stand as the next-of-kin of  Late Mr. Zhao Ziyang so that the funds, will be released and paid into your account as the beneficiary/next-of-kin to the deceased.

All machinery would be put in place to ensure that this claim is hitch free, I have a reputation to consider in this; hence you would have to follow my instruction and guidance religiously as we cannot afford to make any mistake in this process. If you are capable of putting your time and efforts towards the venture kindly contact me immediately with the following information's VIA EMAIL

1. Full names and mailing address
2. Nationality
3. Telephone and fax number.

Upon the successful conclusion of this transaction, you shall be compensated with 40% of the remitted funds, while I keep 50% as my share and the balance 10% will be used in offsetting any expenses incurred.

Yours faithfully,

Huibert Boumeester
+31 649 214 989

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam