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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:

• 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:
  • "huge sum 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 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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "affidavit " (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• 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.
  • frankcetho4000@yahoo.it (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "frank cetho" <frankcetho_n@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: frankcetho4000@yahoo.it
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:17:26 +0200
Subject: private and Confidential From frank cetho

Hello,

I am Mr,FRANK CETHO.the chief Accountant in charge of Auditing and
Accounting unit in ADB BANK OF S/Africa.
In due respect and regard,I have decided to contact you on a business
transaction that will be very beneficial to both of us at the end of the
transaction.
During our investigation and auditing in the bank,my department gazetted a
very huge sum of money belonging to a deceased depositor,a foreigner who
died in october 2003 in a Car accident and the fund has been dormant in his
account with the bank without any claim of the fund in our custody either
from his family or relation before our discovery to this development.

Although personally,i kept this information veiled within my partners and
i,to enable the whole plans and idea profitable and successful during the
time of execution.

The amount involved is USD$46m (fourty six million united states dollars) As
it may interest you to know,i got your impressive information through an
international business enquiry on internet.

I beleive you will be viable and capable to champion a business of such
magnitude without any problem.

Meanwhile the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the bonafide
next-of-kin to the deceased,gets the required approval and transfer this
money to a foreign account has been put in place and directives/needed
information,will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest and
willingness to assist us and also benefit yourself in this great business
opportunity.

In fact,i could have done this deal alone but because of my position in my
country as a civil servant,we are not allowed to operate a foreign account
and would eventually raise an eyebrow on my side during the time of transfer
because i work in this bank.

This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who
will forward claims as the next of kin with affidavit of trust of Oath to
the bank and also present a foreign account where he will need the money to
be re-transfered into, on his request as it may be after due verification
and clarification to designated bank account.

I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free.
On smooth conclusion of this transaction,you will be entitled to 35% of the
total sum asgratification, while 5% will be set aside to take care of
expenses that may be incurred during the time of transfer such as telephone
bills etc, while 60% will be for me and my partners.

Please,you have been advised to keep top-secret as we are still in service
and intend to retire from service after we conclude this deal with you.
I will be monitoring the whole situation here in the bank until you confirm
the money in your account afterwhich we come over to your country for
sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated and for
further investment,either in your country or any other country that would be
convenient to invest in.

All other necessary information would be detailed to you when i hear from
you.
I suggest you get back to me as soon as possible stating your abilities in
this deal.
Alternate email:(frankcetho4000@yahoo.it).

Yours

Faithfully,

frank cetho.

_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam