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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:00:42 +0000
Subject: GET BACK TO ME PLEASE





Dear Friend,



This letter is not intended to cause any embarrassment in whatever
form, rather it is intended to contact your esteemed self, following
the knowledge of your high repute and trustworthiness. Firstly, I must
solicit your confidentiality. I know that a proposal of this magnitude
will make anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that
it is made in good faith and will be of mutual benefit.



My name is Mr. Green, I am the director of operations of my Bank
. I have been in charge of this department for six years and to the
best of my knowledge have discharged my duty with equity. I had a
foreign customer who is deceased at this time, but have funds still
unclaimed with the bank.



In the process of review of our customers accounts report by my
department, I discovered that the customer unfortunately lost his life
in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on 31st
January 2000,the bank have since then made several enquiries to your
Embassy, in a bid to locate any relation of the customer, and these
efforts have not been productive.

I am particularly interested in securing the funds lodged with the Bank
, totalling twelve Million, United States Dollar (USD12M).

Considering lack of success in my bid to locate his relatives for over
two years, I seek your consent to enable me produce you as The Next of
Kin to the deceased customer, The funds will then be transferred to you
as the beneficiary and shared according to a proposed sharing pattern
/ratio of 60:40 i.e. 60% for me and 40% for you.



I will provide all the necessary obtained documents to back up any
claim we make regarding this process, and will just require your
understanding and cooperation to enable us achieve success within a
legitimate arrangement, eliminating any liability resulting from any
breach of the prevalent laws.



Your urgent response will be highly appreciated; you can as well
forward to me your Tell/Fax number immediately for more
discussion/information.



Thank you.



Best Regards,

Greene

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam