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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million 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)
  • ",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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (they don't want anyone to point out to you that this is a scam)
• 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.
  • tombello_uz@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "tom " <tombelloaz22@rediffmail.com>
Date: 7 Jul 2007 11:50:21 -0000
Subject: VERY URGENT


From the desk of:Mr.Tom BelloOwena bankltdLagos,Nigeria.Email;tombello_uz@yahoo.frDear Sir/Ma
I am Mr.Tom Bello,Bank Manager of Owena bank ltd,Lagos Branch.I got yourcontact from the world trade center (WTC) Regional office inlagos,Nigeria.Although the details of my intention was not made known tothem.Actually,I listed your name amongst four other names &amp; prayed overthem &amp; decided tocontact you directly.I have a very urgent &amp;confidentialbussiness proposition for you &amp; for our overall mutual interest.
On june 6 1997,an American oil consultant/contractor withthe NigerianNational Petroleum Corporation Mr Barry Kelly made a numbered time(fixed)deposit for twelve calendar months,valued atUSD$25,000,000.00(twentyfivemillion dollars) in my branch.Upon maturity,i sent a routinenotification to his forwarded address but gotno reply.After a month we senta reminder,&amp; finally we discovered fromhis contract employers NNPC,thatMr.Barry died in an automobileaccident.
On further investigation,i found out that he did not leavea WILL &amp; allattempts to trace his next of kin were fruitless.I therefore made furtherinvestigation &amp; discovered that Mr.Barry did not declare any next of kin inall his official documents,including his bank deposit paperwork.This sum USD$25,000,000.00 is stillfloating in the bank and the interest isbeing rolled over with theprincipal sum at the end of each year.No one willcome forward to claim it.
According to Nigerian Laws, At the expiration of 7years,the money willrevert to the ownership of the Nigerian government if nobody applies toclaim the funds. Consequently,myproposal is that i will like you as aforeigner to stand in as a nextof kin of Mr Barry Kelly.This is simple,
(1)I will like you toprovide me immediately with your full names &amp; addressso that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents &amp; affidavits,whichwillput you as next of kin.
(2)We shall employ the services of twoattorneys for drafting &amp; notarizationof the WILL and obtain thenecessary documents and letter of probate/administration in yourfavour for the transfer.
(3)A bank account in any part of the world,which you will provide tofacilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary.The money will be paid into your account forus to share in the ratio of 60%for me and 40% for you. There is norisk at all as the attorney and myposition will do the paperwork for this transaction as the branch managerguarantees the successful execution of this transaction.If you areinterested,please reply immediately via this private email address. Uponyour response,I shallthen provide you with more details and relevantdocuments that willhelp you understand.
PLEASE OBSERVE UTMOST CONFIDENTIALITY,and be rest assured that this would bemost profitable for both of us because i shall require your assistance toinvest my share in your country.Awaiting yoururgent reply via this email above,please save me the anxiety of endlesswaiting.
God bless you.Mr.Tom BelloOwena bankltd.Lagos,Nigeria.Please reply to this my private emailaccount;tombello_uz@yahoo.fr

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam