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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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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 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)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Patrick Rawlings <patrick_raw2@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 10:42:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: YOUR IMMEDIATE COPERATION NEEDED.


FROM THE OFFICE OF MR PATRICK RAWLINGS,
MANAGER OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT
OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK
P.L.C.GHANA.

STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL


Dear:

THANKS TO A PIECE OF INFORMATION I GATHERED ABOUT YOU
THROUGH THE GHANANIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY,
ALTHOUGH I DID NOT LEAVE ANY CLUE AS TO THE REASON FOR
MY INQUIRY BEARING IN MIND THE CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIRED IN THIS ABSOLUTE RISK-FREE BUSINESS.
I AM MR PATRICK RAWLINGS, THE MANAGER OF THE TREASURY
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK PLC HEAD OFFICE IN ACCRA-GHANA.RECENTLY,WE DISCOVERED A DORMANT
ACCOUNT WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY VALUED USD 9,000,000.00(NINE MILLION US DOLLARS)THAT BELONG TO ONE OF OUR NUMEROUS CUSTOMERS MR HEDRIAN SCHMIDT WHO DIED IN A PLANE CRASH IN NOVEMBER 2002.
DURING THE PERIOD OF OUR INVESTIGATION WE DISCOVERED
THAT THE DECEASED DIED ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY, LEAVING
NO WILL AND NOBODY BEHIND TO COME FOR THE CLAIM AS
NEXT OF KIN,THE BANKING LAW HERE STIPULATES THAT IF
SUCH MONEY REMAIN UNCLAIMED FOR SIX YEARS, IT WILL BE
FORFEITED TO THE BANK TRASURY AS AN UNCLAIMED BILL.
A GHANANIAN CANNOT STAND AS A NEXT OF KIN TO A
FOREIGNER.
IT IS UPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT I AND MY COLLEAGUES
IN THIS DEPARTMENT DECEIDED TO CONTACT YOU TO
COLLABRATE WITH YOU TO PULL OUT THIS DORMANT FUND
WE HAVE IT IN MIND TO GIVE YOU A 25% OF THIS TOTAL
FUND OF THE TOTAL MONEY IF THIS PROPOSAL MEETS
YOUR INTEREST URGENTLY REACH ME THROUGH THE ABOVE
STATED EMAIL,TELEPHONE NUMBERS TO ENABLE ME GIVE
YOU THE FULL DETAILS OF THIS TRANSACTION AND HOW IT
IS GOING TO WORK OUT.
WHAT I WANT FROM YOU IS FOR YOU TO ACT AS THE DECEASED
NEXT OF KIN.I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION(alone)ALL
NECESSARY DOCUMENT TO SUCCESSFULLY ACCOMPLISH THIS
TASK.FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS SOON
AS I RECIEVE YOUR POSITIVE RESPONSE VIA,E-MAIL OR
TELEPHONE.

ANTICIPATING YOUR URGENT REPLY.

BEST REGARDS,

MR PATRICK RAWLINGS.
PHONE:+233-243826907



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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam