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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:
  • "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
  • "transfer into your 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 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "Brett Adams" <adamsbrett16@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: adamsbrett_prvt@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 23:39:28 +0200
Subject: I wait for the information please

#4, Nelspurit Plaza, Cnr Bester.
1st Floor, Merlite Building.
Hensahall Street. NELSPRUIT
Johanessbourg, RSA.

Dear Sir/Madam,

RE: TRANSFER OF EIGHTEEN MILLION USD ($18,000,000.00 USD) VERY URGENT AND
HIGHLY, CONFIDENTIAL CONSIDER IT AND REPLY IMMEDIATELY.

My name is Mr Brett Adams, I works in the International operation department
in a Local Bank here in South Africa. On a routine auditing I discovered a
dormant domiciliary account with a balance of ($18,000,000.00) Eighteen
Million USD on further investigation, I also discovered that the account
holder has died for a very long time now and leaving no beneficiary or next
of kin to the account. But due to the fact that we are not allowed to
operate foreign account here I cannot lay claims to the money with my name
and that is why I am contacting you as a foreigner so that we could use your
name and account and claim this money.

I wish to let you know that the bank can approve this money to you as a
foreigner and the next of kin if you can come up because the former holder
of the account has died and he was a foreigner, and he left nobody as the
beneficiary and next of kin to the account that is why the account has
remain dormant for sevral years now.

I wish to assure you that there is no risk in this business as all the
arrangements for the successful transfer of this money has been made. All I
want you to do is to send me your account information so that I will use it
and put your name as the next of KIN and the bonafide BENFICIARY to the
account and then apply for foreign payment approval on your behalf so that
the money will be transfer into your account immediately. The information
you will send will be as follows:-

Bank Name.........
Bank Address........
Holder's Name.............
Account Number............
Swift/Routing Code No.....

I will provide every other necessary information needed in order to claim
this money, but all you have to do is to be following my instructions very
well. Kindly send also your Telephone Number, and Fax number so that I can
call you and give you further details about this business.

Finally,I will give you 30% of the total amount after the successful
transfer of the money, and I will take 65% while the remaining 5% will be
use to offset any debt both of us may incurr in the cause of the business.

Please this business requires highly "CONFIDENTIALITY" as any breach in it
thereof could jeopardize my job and the future of my family. And please
accept my sincere apologies, keep my confidence and disregard this mail if
you do not appreciate this proposal.

I wait for your favourable and immediate reply.

Brgds,

Mr Brett Adams

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam