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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:
  • "huge sum of money" (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.
  • t330y4k@netscape.net

Fraud email example:

From: Janet <t300y4k@netscape.net>
Reply-To: t330y4k@netscape.net
Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 17:24:18 +0100
Subject: Hello


Dear friend,

URGENT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP

I am contacting you to seek your assistance for a business proposal that will be of mutual benefit to both of us.

My husband was murdered by the Dictator President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe who is the current President of my country Zimbabwe. I and my family escaped and fled the country to a neighbouring country South Africa where we are currently residing on exile.

Before the death of my husband he transferred a huge sum of money to Europe through a Security firm, and the funds are still in custody of this security firm in Europe.

I have been trying to fly to Europe but it has been difficult for me to get a visa from Africa. So I want you to help me make claims of this fund ($16 Million dollars) in Europe as my beneficiary and transfer the money to your account or any account of your choice before I can get a visa to fly down to meet with you so that we can share this money.

I have agreed to give you 10%, which would be ($1.6Million dollars) of this Money for your assistance, and 87% would be mine and the other 3% would be set aside for any expenses that we may incure during the course of this transaction. My 87% would be invested in your country in any profitable business proposed by you. I will give part of my share of the fund to charity organisations in your country and also in my country too.

We have never met, but I want to trust you and please do not let me down when this fund finally gets into your account. Please if you are interested, get to me through the email address below to enable me feed you with more details and all necessary documentations.

Please treat this as confidential.

Best regards,

Mrs Janet
Email: t330y4k@netscape.net

NOTE: YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT MY COUNTRY ON THESE LINKS;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715001.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/818766.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/715280.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1369182.stm

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam