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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• 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 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: "Mr. Arif S." <arifshaikh04@mail.az>
Reply-To: arifshakh04@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 05 Oct 2006 23:06:52 +0400
Subject: Greetings from Mr. Arif.


Good Day,

My name is Mr. Arif Shaikh Khan, a banker here in U. A.E. I write you this proposal in good faith as a brother.In 2002 a Crude Oil dealer Late Mr. Barid Emad, made a (Fixed deposit) for 36 calendar months, valued at US$17,500,000.00 (Seventeen Million, Five hundred Thousand US Dollars) with my bank. I was his account officer before I rose to the position of manager.The maturity date for this deposit contract was 20th of August 2005. I have tried my possible best to locate Mr. Emad to notify him about this, but all my efforts proved abortive.
I later discovered that Mr. Emad, his wife and only daughter were among the victims of bomb blast during the war in Iraq. Unfortunately, he has no other living relatives to inherit this fund. Now, a new Financial Law, which takes effect in two month's time, stipulates that any bank account more than $5,000,000.00 [Five Million US Dollars] will be investigated and the bank shall produce the account owner for clearance. This is a Government measure to check money laundering.

If I do not find a way to move this money out of the country immediately, in two month's time, it might be reverted to Government treasury because the bank management cannot provide Mr. Emad since he is now late. I am seeking your co-operation to present you as the next of kin to the account since you are a foreigner, so that my bank head quarters will release the funds to you. It is only a foreigner can claim the funds in the account.

Please, treat as top secret, I am the only person having this information.

Regards,

Arif Shaikh Khan.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam