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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• 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.
  • mhhandrei@aim.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mihai Andrei <mihaiandrei@bondmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 18:56:46 +0100
Subject: Contact


Mihai Andrei
Bond Finance Ltd, London.
Personal email: mhhandrei@aim.com

Dear Friend,

I am Mr. Mihai Andrei, the Auditor General, Bond Finance Limited UK. In the course of my auditing, I discovered a floating fund in an account which was opened in 1990 belonging to a dead foreigner who died in 1999. Every effort made to track any member of his family or next of kin has since failed; hence I got in contact with you to stand as his next of kin. He died leaving no heir or a will.

My intention is to transfer this sum of $15.5M in the aforementioned account to a safe account overseas. I am therefore proposing that you quietly partner with me and provide an account or set up a new one that will serve the purpose of receiving this fund. For your assistance in this venture, I am ready to part with a good percentage of the entire funds.

After going through the deceased person's records and files, I discovered that:
(1) No one has operated this account since 1993
(2) He died without an heir; hence the money has been floating.
(3) No other person knows about this account and there was no known beneficiary.

If I do not remit this money urgently, it would be forfeited and subsequently converted to company's funds which will benefit only the directors of my firm. This money can be approved to you legally as with all the necessary documentary approvals in your name. However, you would be required to show some proof of claim which I will provide you with and also guide you on how to make your applications.

Please do give me a reply so that I can send you detailed information on the modalities of my proposition. I completely trust you to keep this proposition absolutely confidential. Kindly forward your telephone and fax numbers where I can reach you easily. I look forward to your prompt response.
Best Regards,


Mr. Mihai Andrei
mhhandrei@aim.com

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam