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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
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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million british pounds" (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: "Mr Robert Johnson" <robertjohnson776@iwon.com>
Reply-To: robertjohnson775@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2007 09:54:19 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Dear Friend,


Dear Friend,Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal ethics.I will introduce myself as Mr Robert Johnson a staff in the accounts management section of a well-known bank here in the United Kingdom . One of our accounts with holding balance of 15,000,000 (Fifteen Million British Pounds) has been dormant and has not been operated for the past 4 years. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account a foreigner by name Austin Martins died in August 4 th 2000 and since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money because he has no family members who are aware of the existence of neither the account nor the funds.Also Information from the National Immigration states that he was also single on entry into the UK.I have secretly discussed this matter with some of the bank officials and we have agreed to find a reliable foreign partner to deal with. We thus propose to do business with you, standing in as the next
of kin of these funds from the deceased and funds released to you after due processes have been followed.This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is a legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other illegal act.On your interest, let me hear from you :Private email address where you can reach me : Regards,Mr.Robert Johnson.

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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam