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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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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:
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Albert Wang <privatefile@mail15.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 23:09:57 +0100
Subject: Pls. Advice.


ATTENTION PLEASE.

Hello,

Please this is not a hoax. I handle investigations for a bank. Recently, I =
discovered a false claim to a dormant account. My investigation revealed, =
that the deceased account owner and claimant are not related in any way. How =
does this concern you, you may ask? I will explain.


I am expected to submit the result of my investigation to the bank management =
for their record, but I have decided to delay. Reason being that the greedy =
directors of the bank simply takes advantage of such opportunity, to =
comfortably convert the account to their use. They do not consider the option =
of looking for the true relatives of deceased account owners and this =
situation hurts me. I therefore wish to seek your consent to partner with me =
in securing the proceeds of this account.


The account in question is reasonably funded and my sincere desire is for us =
to search for any true relatives of the late account owner. We shall secure =
the money in an account in your name. I have worked out the modalities for =
working this out safely, so there will no problem in the process once you =
agree to partner with me in the project. My plan is such that I shall =
introduce you in my report as the relative of the deceased whom I ran into to =
during my investigation and payment approval will be issued for release of =
the account proceeds to you.
When this money is transferred to you, you shall secure it on trust until we =
are able to find a relative of the deceased account owner.



Please look at this case as important and safe. I will require your honest =
cooperation to enable us see things through successfully. My report shall be =
submitted to management explaining that I was let to you in the course of my =
investigation and this will be all. The report makes you, a true relative of =
the deceased without any cause to worry. I guarantee that the process will be =
executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect us from any breach =
of the law.


Please this letter and all its contents should remain between us.


I wait to hear from you.


Best Regards,
Han.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam