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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:
  • ",000,000" (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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Kenneth Mgbo <kenn_m007@yahoo.co.uk>
Reply-To: kenn_m03@yahoo.co.uk
Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 15:11:56 +0100 (BST)
Subject: Sorry for disturbing you, please send your reply.


Mr. Kenneth Mgbo Esq.
KENGBO LAW FIRM,
London United Kingdom.

Greeting,

Sorry I am contacting you via this venue, it is due to the nature of the request I am about to tell you and it's urgency. I am Mr Kenneth Mgbo Esq, an attorney at law. I have a client (Late Sir Patrick Hans) who is presently late since 4years ago.

I am having a little problem with his bank here (Halifax Bank of Scotland London Branch). The management of the bank has called on me to forward name and contact of my client's Next of Kin to confirm with the one they have on their file. Unfortunately, the next of kin is dead, She died Two months ago during a Cancer operation. I have made the bank to know that the next of kin is dead and requested that I be given the opportunity to locate his relatives since I am his personal attorney.

I was called by the bank a week ago and was informed that my request has been granted under the condition of providing my client's relative within the next 14 working days or have my client's account with a balance of £30,000,000.00(Thirty Million Great British Pounds) confiscated.

It is on this subject, I therefore seek for your concent to present you as the relative and next of kin to my client and have the opportunity of applying for the claim of his account balance. I will provide you with all information and proves to back you up with this transaction and I assure you that it is 100% risk free. I will make sure it is executed under a very legitimate arrangement that will protect you from every breach of law.

Please endeavour to get back to me after reading my mail to declear your interest and willingness to proceed with me on this life time opportunity. Upon your reply I shall give you further details and we shall discuss sharing percentage according to our efforts. Include your direct telephone number while replying.

Regards,

Mr. Kenneth Mgbo Esq.
KENGBO LAW FIRM,
London United Kingdom.


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam