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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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million us dollars" (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: "Anthony Peter" <anthony_peter@msn.com>
Reply-To: anthony-peter@excite.com
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 11:53:31 +0000
Subject: CAN YOU?

>From The Desk Of: Anthony Peter
Tel: +2289480580

Goodday to you,
I am writing on behalf of a client of our bank, who died after winning the
lottery.He won $10,000,000.00 (Ten Million US Dollars)After hearing the good
news he had a stroke, He is a foreigner. I am contacting you because you
share the same ith the Client that won the Lottery,so you can be the next of
kin.A foreigner in the sense that you do not live in Lome-Togo.He was
77years old and he has no relative. Now the funds are left unclaimed for, If
it is not claimed now it will be handed to the government as unclaimed
funds.

I want you to claim for the funds as a relative of his, i will give you the
winning lottery number and the other details and you will send it to the
bank as the next of kin. I am a worker at the bank and i will send all the
details to your email, we will share the total funds 50/50.I and my
partners,will share Five million us dollars you take the rest.

The country is not stable now, so we should move now.You will take the rest
for your work and assistance.The whole process will be done in a day.It just
takes 24hrs.We want to use our share of the funds as an investment.Once i
hear a postive response from you i will furnish you with all the other
details.Please leave your full name and contact details so that i can
contact you back.The most important thing is if i can trust you and that you
will not let us down? My phone number is +2289480580.Call me now any time if
interested i am available or send me an email so that we can begin.

This business is risk free everything will be legal.

Thank you,
Mr. Anthony Peter.
Transfer Dept

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam