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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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• What can you do when you receive 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)
• This email message is a "dying merchant" scam.

Fraud email example:

From: bhaipatek4@hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 05:31:23 +0200
Subject: I Await Your Response

Dear Friend,

As you read this, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because, I
believe everyone will die someday. My name is Bhai Patek, I have been
diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer and it has defiled all forms of medical
treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live,
according to medical experts.

Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property
and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few
close friends. I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I
have decided to give also to charity organizations, as I want this to be
one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed
money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Algeria and
Malaysia.Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this
myself anymore.

I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and
distribute the money which I have there to charity organization in
Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves.
Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be content with
what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one knows of is
the huge cash deposit of Twenty Seven Million, Four Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($27,450,000.00) that I have with a finance/Security
Company abroad. I want you to help me to collect this deposit and
dispatch it to charity organizations. I have set aside 30% for your time
and service.

Please reply me with honesty as soon as you receive this mail.

God be with you.
Bhai Patek.

NB: For confidential reasons you can contact me on my private email
address.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam