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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:
  • "a security company " (this will cost you money - that's what the scam is about)
  • "huge amount 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "DR KENNY MARTINS" <kennymartins_2006@yahoo.com> (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 17:12:50 +0800
Subject: TREAT AS URGENT

Dear,

This proposal is confidential therefore I ask you to kindly ready
it carefully.

I am DR.Kenny Martins the linkman between the Organization for
Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC and World Bank. I also attend
OPEC meetings constantly in Geneva Switzerland on the auspices of
World Bank.

Through the sale of our allocated oil quota in OPEC, I was able to
make US$25.5million, which is currently deposited in a Security
Company abroad. I want you to assist me to claim this money as I
cannot claim it directly because I am still a Civil servant in
active service, and the code of conduct bureau forbids me to
acquire such huge amount of Money.

It is on this basis that I am contacting you for assistance; If
You will be interested to work with me so that I will issue you an
authorization, and all claim documents will be processed and sent
to you. The documents with which the fund is deposited will be
changed to reflect you as the new beneficiary so that you will be
eligible to collect the fund on my behalf.

I will give you 30% of the fund for this assistance, while 65%
will be for me and 5% will be for expenses that may be incurred on
both sides. I am aware of the international monitoring of all
large-scale financial movements after the September 11th
2001Terrorist attack on America (USA) and to avoid any state of
financial Investigation I will provide a classified clearance
paper from the relevant body, which will exonerate the money from
drug, money laundered or terrorist related funds.

Kindly respond to my proposal through this my private email, upon
the receipt of your mail indicating interest; I will outline the
work plan for you.

I want to assure you that this is 100% risk free. You should also
provide me with your private telephone and fax numbers for easier
communication in the process of this deal. I will give you more
details concerning this as soon as I received your swift response
which must include your full names, address, occupation, age and
your direct mobile phone number.

Expecting your response.
DR.Kenny Martins

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam