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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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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Fraud email example:

From: shogo_olorun@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 12:40:33 +0100
Subject: pls lets work together

DEAR SIR,

I AM THE MANAGER BILLS AND EXCHANGE AT THE FOREIGN DEPOSIT DEPARTMENT OF ZENITH SECURITY/FINANACE COMPANY. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION TO CARRY OUT THIS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IN MY DEPARTMENT.

WE DISCOVER AN ABANDONED SUM OF US$11,500,000.00 (ELEVEN MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY) DEPOSITED IN A TRUNK BOX BY ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMER WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY IN A PLANE CRASH.

SINCE WE RECEIVED THE INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT OF KIN TO COME AND CLAIM HIS DEPOSIT BECAUSE WE CANNOT RELEASE THE MONEY UNLESS SOMEBODY APPLIES FOR IT AS THE NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR CODE OF CONDUCT. UNFORTUNATELY,NEITHER THE FAMILY MEMBER NOR THE RELATION HAS APPEARED TO CLAIM THIS DEPOSIT.

AT THIS DISCOVERY, I AND OTHER OFFICIALS IN THE DEPARTMENT NOW DECIDED TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU AND RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION OF THE DECEASE FOR SAFETY AND SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT SINCE NOBODY IS COMING FOR IT AND WE DON'T WANT THIS MONEY TO GO INTO THE COMPANIES TREASURY AS AN UNCLAIMED DEPOSIT.

THE COMPANY LAW AND CODE OF CONDUCT OF ZENITH SECURITY/ FINANACE STATES THAT IF SUCH MONEY REMAINED UNCLAIMED FOR A PERIOD OF THREE (3) YEARS IT WILL BE TRANSFERRED INTO THE COMPANY TREASURY AS UNCLAIMEDND.

THE NEED FOR A FOREIGNER AS NEXT OF KIN IN THIS BUSINESS IS OCASSIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE CUSTOMER WAS A FOREIGNER AND THE FUND CAN BE MOVED TO ANY OF OUR AFFILIATE OFFICES IN EUROPE WHERE HE WILL GO FOR THE CLAIM. WE AGREED THAT 30% OF THE MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU AS FOREIGN PARTNER, 5% FOR EXPENSES, 65% FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES. WE WILL VISIT YOUR COUNTRY FOR OUR SHARE AS SOON AS THE MONEY IS CONFIRMED IN YOUR ACCOUNT FOR THE DISBURSMENT AND POSSIBLE INVESTIMENT.

WE ARE READY TO COMMENCE WITH THE DOCUMENTATION IN YOUR NAME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OUR PROPOSAL. WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU IS YOUR DIRECT TEL/FAX NUMBER FOR EASY COMMUNICATION AND YOUR FULL NAME AS IT APPEARS IN YOUR INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT/DRIVERS LIESENCE TO ENABLE US GET THE LEGAL PAPERS FROM THE COURT IN YOUR NAME AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS INFORMATION IS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AS WE ARE STILL IN OFFICE AND WILL NOT WANT
TO LOOSE OUR JOB.

I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A PLEASANT DAY.

YOURS SINCERELY
OLORUNSHOGO WILLIAMS
ZENITH SECURITY/FINANCE LTD.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam