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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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)
  • "your urgent reply" (they are rushing you so you don't have time to think properly)
  • "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: george lucas <mrgeorge_202020@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <georgelucas1960@mixmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2007 14:07:45 +0000
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED



FROM THE DESK OF:MR.GEORGE LUCAS,AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK(A.D.B)OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA-FASO,WEST AFRICA.TEL: +226 78 81 33 73 .Dear Friend,(PRIVATE/CONFIDENTIAL).I am GEORGE LUCAS .the Director in charge of Auditing section African Development Bank(A.D.B)Ouagadougou Burkina-Faso in West Africa. Forgive my indignation if this message comes to you as a surprise. AS IT MAY INTEREST YOU TO KNOW, I GOT YOUR IMPRESSIVE INFORMATION THROUGH THE INTERNET SEARCH HERE IN OUAGADOUGOUBURKINA-FASO. I FASTED AND PRAYED FORTHREE DAYS BEFORE I CONTACT YOU TO BE MY PARTNER. Ihave decided to contact you on a project that will be very beneficial to both ofus.During our auditing in this Bank,I came across some amount of money belonging to a deceased foreigner Mr.ARAFAT BAMBARA who died with his wife and their only daughter on Friday 26TH December ,2003 in a plane crash.The fund has been dormant in his account with this Bank without any claim of the fund in our custody from his relation before my discovery to this development. The said amount is U.S $15.5.00(FIFTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS). I want you to know that I never master minded the death of the deceased fellow. Their death was occured Naturally. Please View this website: http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.htmlFOR YOUR INFORMATION BEEN YOU NOT A LEBANON WILL NOT POSE ANY PROBLEM FOR THE SUCESSFUL TRANSFER OF THIS FUND INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. All the whole arrangement to put claim over this fund as the Bonafide next of kin to the deceased has been put in place and directives will be relayed to you as soon as you indicate your interest and willingness to assist me and also benefit your self to this great business opportunity. In this country as a civil servant(A Banker),we are not allowed to operate a foreign account. This is the actual reason why itwill require a second party or fellow who will forward claims as the next of kin to the Bank and also present a foreign account where he will need the money to be re-transferred into on his request. Our Banking law stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after seven years, the money will be transferred into the Bank treasury as unclaimed fund.The request of foreigner as next of kin in this business is occasioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and a Burkinabe cannot stand as next of kin. I dont want this money to go into the Bank treasury as unclaimed Bill. Be assured this transaction is 100% risk free. On conclusion of this Project, you will be entitled to 40% of the total sum as gratification,while 60% will be for me.Please you have been adviced to keep "topsecret" as I am still in service and intend to retire from service after I conclude this deal with you. I will fly down to your country for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously indicated and further investment will be discussed. On your acceptance to be my partner, please email for a brief discussion before we proceed. Please keep this proposal secret, even if you dont want to assist me. I look forward to receive your urgent reply.Yours faithfully,URGENT RESPONSE NEEDEDMr.GEORGE LUCAS.
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam