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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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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:
  • "million united states 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 next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "STEPHEN COLE" <stephencolejnt@yahoo.co.uk> (may be fake)
Reply-To: stephencole190@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2006 18:55:38 +0100
Subject: URGENT REPLY

Hello,

I am Mr Stephen Cole [ESQ.], the attorney to the late Mr. Perry Mac-Ford.

Engr Perry Mac-Ford who is a national of your country, who tills his death, was a Contractor with cappa and dalberto/Moenier Oil & Gas Consult and London Ports authority.

Here in after shall be referred to as my direct client.

Mr. Perry Mac-Ford died in an auto crash accident on his way back home, on 21st April 2002.

Unfortunately for him and his three kids, lost their lives immediately in the

event of the accident, while the wife was taken to the hospital where she died three days later.

The very reason that prompted me to send you this email is that the bank to my late client called me last week urged me to provide the next of kin to Mr. Perry Mac-Ford. The bank has also told me to present together with all the legal documents backing the intended claim by his next of kin who is also the beneficiary to the amount of seven million United States dollars [$7,000,000] deposited by my late client Perry Mac-Ford before his death.

After the meeting held by the Executives of the Bank with me

as the personal attorney to the late Engineer they have all mandated me to contact the next of kin to my late client.

Consequently i have contacted you to assist in claiming this fund as the beneficiary of the account of our late client, because i do want to make you the next of kin to my late client, as you will stand as the next of kin to make this claim in the account valued Seven million united states dollars [$7,000,000].

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legal arrangement that will protect
you from any breach of the law.

Please, if you are willing to transact this business with me, kindly get back to me as soon as you received this email with your full name, phone number, in your return email. Looking forward to your response.

Attorney-at-law
STEPHEN COLE [ESQ]

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam