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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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:
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +2348026444865 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • folkenakins@yahoo.com

Fraud email example:

From: "folk nakins" <folkenakins@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2006 13:44:49 +0000
Subject: urgent

Hello, Good day to you. You were introduced to me in confidence . The reason
for this letter is that your help is being sought in order to facilitate and
successfully complete a profitable venture that is of immense benefit to
you, and us. I am an accountant of IMB SECURITY BANK PLC, in the auditing
department. This profitable venture involves an abandoned sum of ($15.5mUSD
) Fifteen million in an account that belongs to one MR kalk lee, from united
kingdom, in account number IMBS/LAG-0182-X138/00 which after investigation
discovered died. After information about his death, we have been expecting
his next of kin to come over and claim his money because we cannot release
it unless somebody applies for it as next-of-kin or a relation to the
deceased as indicated in the banking guidelines. The request of foreigner as
next-of-kin in this business is very important. All modalities of this
transaction have been carefully worked out and once started will not take
more than seven (7) working days, with your full support. This transaction
is 100% risk free! Most importantly, your honesty, sincerity and cooperation
is very important for the successful transfer of the funds. God bless you.
You should contact me immediately as soon as you receive this letter. I am
looking forward to hearing from you immediately. If you can assist in this
regard, you can call me on my mobile:234-8026444865,email me on my personal
email box:folkenakins@yahoo.com,or this very email box. Please get back to
me include your Phone and fax number for easy communication, to discus how
you will contact the bank lawyer to perfect the documentation for the claim
of the funds. Please you should not disuse this transaction with any one.
waiting for your reply. Yours faithfully, Mr.folken akins

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam