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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:

• 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)
  • "30% for you " (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.
  
• 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.
  • merrick_dean4u@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "merrick dean" <merrick_dean4u4@excite.com>
Reply-To: merrick_dean4u@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Sun, 1 Apr 2007 22:49:47 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Dear friend


Dear friend(from Mr.merrick Dean) Do accept my sincere apologies if my mail does not meet your personal Ethics and you should not be much surprise on this urgent assistance needed from you. I introduce myself as Mr. Merrick Dean an American Citizen a credit control manager in (Ahli United Bank (UK) of a well-known bank here in the United Kingdom (Ahli United Bank (UK).One of our accounts with holding balance of $48,500 000.00 (fourty Eight million Five hundred thousand) has been dormant and last operated in the past 3 years. From my investigations and confirmations, the owner of this account is a Foreigner by name Gerald Stone died on the 4th of January 2002 on a planecrash in Birmingham here in UK.Since then nobody has done anything as regards the claiming of this money as he has no family Member who is aware of the existence of either the account or the Funds. Information from the National Immigration also states that he was single on entry into the UK. I have
confidentially discussed this issue with my friend here who is also a staff of the bank 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 fund released to you after due processes have been followed.The funds shall be shared as, 30% for you and 65% for me and my friend. Then the remaining 5% will be maped out for any kind of expenses made by both parties on the process of the transaction.This transaction is totally free of risk and troubles as the fund is Legitimate and does not originate from drug, money laundry, terrorism or any other Illegal act.On your interest, let me hear from you through via email(merrick_dean4u@yahoo.co.uk) for private conservation,Do not take undue advantage of the trust I have bestowed in you. I want you to be focus and face this business transaction with all seriousness that it deserves. Please provide me the following:1.
Full Name.2. Your Telephone Number.3. Your Contact Address. Regards,Mr. Merrick Dean.

_______________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam