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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:

• 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)
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. )
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +31626537142 (Netherlands, prepaid mobile phone)
• 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.
  • peter_vansmith@yahoo.co.uk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "P.Van Smith" <peter_vansmith2@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 01:54:33 -0400
Subject: Here is My Telephone Number.

Attn: CEO/President
Dear Friend,

I am Peter Van Smith; I was the personal attorney to Eng. John McPherson, a
national of your country who used to work with an oil servicing company here
in Europe.

Eng. John McPherson 65 years of age made a fixed deposit of fund Valued at
US$18,500,000.00 (Eighteen Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars Only) in a diplomatic consignment with a Security Company/Finance
Firm here in Europe and unfortunately lost his life in an Egyptian charter
plane Boeing 737 which crashed into the Red Sea early on January 3, 2004
shortly after taking off from the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all the
135 passengers and 13 crew members aboard. (View:
http://english.people.com.cn/200401/04/eng20040104_131791.shtml)

Recently, the governing body of the Security Company/Finance Firm contacted
me on this matter, requesting that I should notify the Next of Kin of my
late client to proceed for the claim of the deposited funds. He left no
clear beneficiary as Next of Kin except some vital documents related to the
deposit still in my possession and I am yet to provide the Next of Kin to
make claims of the Funds.

Under a clear and legitimate agreement with you, I seek your consent to
present you as the Next of Kin so that my late client's fund will not be
confiscated by the Security Company. You and I can share the money, you will
be entitled to 40% of the total fund for your role as the relative and Next
of Kin of my late client, 50% for me while 10% is to be marked out for any
expenses that will be incurred during the clearance or process of transfer
of the funds to
your bank account.

Be informed that there is no risk involved as all necessary legal documents
which will be used to back you up as beneficiary and Next of Kin of my late
client will be carefully procured. All I require is your sincerity, honesty;
co-operation and utmost good faith to enable us see this deal through. I
guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that
will protect you from any breach of the law.

Kindly, get in touch with me by e-mail (peter_vansmith@yahoo.co.uk) or by
telephone (+31 626 537 142) to discuss further. You may also send your
telephone number so that I can call you. Do not forget that a transaction of
this magnitude require utmost confidentiality and sincerity.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam