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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "to your nominated bank account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• 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.
  • walterbrown01@aim.com

Fraud email example:

From: "brown Walter" <brownwalter_1@msn.com>
Reply-To: walterbrown01@aim.com
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 16:32:12 +0000
Subject: Think About This.

Good Day,
Please bear with me for now and do not ask my name. What I have may be of
interest to you. It's an obscured business suggestion/proposal that will be
beneficial to you and I.

Before I start explaining it all to you, I will want to advice that you
should not consider me a dishonest individual in the end after reading this
email for deciding to do this because no matter what your decision is going
to be, the late man's money will be going into someone else pockets, and
this is either going to be me and you or the United Kingdom Government
eventually. I am doing this for out of desperation for myself, my family and
for their future's sake.

Before the U.S and Iraqi war broke out again our client Gen. Aadel Akgaal
Bastaan who was with the Iraqi forces and also a businessman made a numbered
fixed deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of Twenty Four million
Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch. Upon maturity
several notices was sent to him, even during the war which began in 2003.
Again after the war another notification was sent and still no response came
from him. We later find out that the General along with his wife and only
daughter had been killed during the war in a bomb blast that hit their home.

After further investigation it was also discovered that Gen. Aadel Akgaal
Bastaan did not declare any next of kin in his official papers including the
paper work of his bank deposit. And he also confided in me the last time he
was at my office that no one except me knew of his deposit in my bank. So,
Twenty Four million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars is still
lying in my bank and no one will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers
me most is that according to the laws of my country at the expiration 5
years, the funds will be reverted to the ownership of the United Kingdom
Government if nobody applies to claim the funds. Against this backdrop, my
suggestion to you is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand as the
next of kin to Gen. Aadel Akgaal Bastaan so that you will be able to receive
his funds.

MODALITIES:
I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we shall
come out successful. I have an attorney that will prepare the necessary
document that will back you up as the next of kin to Gen. Aadel Akgaal
Bastaan, all that is required from you at this stage is for you to provide
me with your Full Name and Address so that the attorney can commence his
job. After you have been made the next of kin, the attorney will also fill
in for claims on your behalf and secure the necessary approval and of
probate in your favor for the movement of the funds to an account that will
be provided by you.

There is no risk involved at all in this matter, as we are going to adopt a
legalized method and the attorney will be preparing all the necessary
documents. Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters
concerning this issue. Once the funds have been transferred to your
nominated bank account we shall then share in the ratio of 70% for me, 30%
for you.
Should you be interested please send me your:

(1) Full names,

(2) Private phone number,

(3) Current residential address,

And I will prefer you reach me on my anonymous email address below:
walterbrown01@aim.com

and finally after that, I shall provide you with more details of this
operation. Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Warmest and Kindest Regards,

Walter

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam