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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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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • markbello2005@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "Mark Bello" <mark_bello12@msn.com>
Reply-To: mark_b_405@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 16:56:39 +0000
Subject: Hello (Urgent)

Good Day,

I am an Account Officer with UNION BANK PLC,My name is BELLO, a Banker. I am the personal Account Manager to ENGINEER Allen Williams, a National of your country, who used to work with an Oil servicing Firm in Nigeria Here in after shall be referred to as my client,my client passed on as a result of a heart attack.  After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they Get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged, particularly the UNION BANK PLC.

Where the deceased had an account Valued at about ($6 million u s dollars) has Issued me a notice to provide the next of kin. Or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased so that this account valued at ($ 6 million u s dollars) can be paid to you The sharing modality is till open and negociatable.All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. Please get in touch with me by this my email:(markbello2005@yahoo.com)with your phone number and best way to reach you .

Regards,

MARK BELLO

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam