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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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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: "Mr.Mark SMITH" <mk_smith37@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: mark.smith37@zipmail.com.br
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 15:07:02 -0700
Subject: Urgent Enquiry Pls!

DEAR FRIEND,
MY NAME IS MARK SMITH,PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO DR.ADAMS OFORI, DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPT. (INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK OF GHANA LTD- ICB)ACCRA-GHANA.
I AM WRITTING IN RESPECT OF A FOREIGN CUSTOMER OF MY BANK(MRS.JUDITH BOWAN OF AMERICA) WHO PERISHED IN THE PLANE CRASH OF 31ST OCTOBER,1999[WITH EGYPTIAN AIRLINE 990] WITH OTHER PASSENGERS ABOARD.

SINCE THE DEMISE OF MRS.JUDITH BOWAN,I PERSONALLY HAVE WATCHED WITH KEEN INTEREST TO SEE THE NEXT OF KIN BUT ALL HAS PROVED ABORTIVE AS NO ONE HAS COME TO CLAIM HER FUNDS OF USD7.5M[SEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS]AND THIS MONEY HAS BEEN WITH OUR BANK SINCE THEN.

ON THIS NOTE I DECIDED TO SEEK FOR WHOM SHALL COME PUT TO CLAIM TO THIS FUNDS AS THE NEXT OF KIN,AS NO ONE HAS COME UP TO PUT CLAIM AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THIS FUNDS AND THE BANKING LAW HERE DOES NOT ALLOW SUCH MONEY TO STAY MORE THAN FOUR YEARS,BECAUSE AFTER FOUR YEARS THE MONEY WILL BE CALLED BACK TO THE CENTRAL BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED BILL.

IN VIEW OF THIS I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH MY COUNTRY'S FOREIGN TRADE MISSION AFTER I WAS CONVINCED IN MY MIND THAT YOUR NAME/COMPANY COULD BE USED AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THIS CLAIM.THE REQUEST OF THE FOREIGNER AS ANEXT OF KIN IN THIS BUSINESS IS OCCASSIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE CUSTOMER WAS A FOREIGNER AND A GHANAIAN CANNOT STAND AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO A FOREIGNER.

WE HAVE DECIDED THAT 30% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU AS A FOREIGN PARTNER IN RESPECT OF PROVIDING AN ACCOUNT WHILE 10% WILL TAKE CARE OF ANY EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURED IN THE PROCESS OF THE TRANSFER AND THE REST WILL BE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES[OTHER HEADS OF DEPARTMENT]. THEREAFTER WE WILL VISIT YOUR COUNTRY FOR DISBURSEMENT AS I AM ALMOST DUE FOR RETIREMENT PERSONALLY.

UPON THE RECEIPT OF YOUR REPLY,I WILL SEND YOU A DRAFT APPLICATION OF CLAIM WHICH YOU WILL SEND TO THE BANK AS THE NEXT OF KIN AND THE NEXT STEP TO TAKE.

I WILL NOT FAIL TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THIS BUSINESS IS RISK-FREE AND THAT YOU SHOULD NOT ENTERTAIN ANY FEAR AS THE WHOLE REQUIRED ARRANGEMENT AS BEEN PERFECTED FOR THE TRANSFER.
HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU.
BEST REGARDS,
MR.MARK SMITH

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam