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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "peter johnson" <peterjohnson4@msn.com>
Reply-To: peterjohnson@pimprig.net
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 13:38:50 +0000
Subject: IN GOOD FAITH.

Attn.: Russian Investment Opportunity.

Dear Sir or Madam,

INTRODUCTION:

My name is Peter Johnson, I am one of Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky's personal
treasurers.
Mr. Khodorkovsky was once one of the richest men in Russia.
Mr. Khodorkovsky is owner of the following companies:

Chairman CEO: YUKOS OIL (Russia's Largest Oil Company)
Chairman CEO: Menatep SBP Bank (A well known and well respected financial
institution with branches all over the world)

Situation:
Some while ago whilst in the process of crediting certain funds, via various
European security and finance companies , Mr. Khodorkovsky was arrested for
his political involvement in the financing of political parties which posed
a threat to President Vladimir Putin's second tenure as Russian president.
Due to these facts, Yukos Oil has been forced to file under chapter 11 for
bankruptcy. Ironically the shares of our largest conglomerates was
dubiously and specially orchestrated by Putin and sold to a local coy some
time ago.

Due to the situation with regards to Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovsky 'imprisonment'
and the takeover of the petroleum industry by the Russian Government I have
an amount in excess of $21.5M USD which I seek your help and 'business
advice' in acquiring access to.

SOURCE OF FUNDS:

The documents that allow me access to the funds in question were handed over
to me [in the form of payment] by a United States based oil merchant with
regards to previous business done by him and Mr. Khodorkovsky. The funds are
currently held by a European security and finance company who are charged
with allocating and the final crediting of held funds.
At completion of business, should you agree to help me, you will be rewarded
with the sum of 15% of the aforementioned sum in cash to an account of your
choice for your 'advisory' input as a 'consultant'.

YOUR ROLE:

All I need from you is for you to agree to stand as the beneficiary of the
above mentioned sum. I will arrange for the documentation to be translated
and filed with the relevant agencies which will enable the European finance
company transfer the sum to an account.
As soon as I receive confirmation of your readiness to go ahead with the
transfer of funds I will send you all the appropriate documentation that you
need to continue including details of the European finance house concerned
with this transaction.

Sincerely

Mr.Peter Johnson.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam