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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:
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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 fake company names, fake addresses, non-existent institutions/documents or other details have appeared in scams before:
  • "first national bank" (not involved with lotteries)
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "transfer into your account" (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)
  • "million us 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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Kathy Smith <katcent2969@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: <katcent2969@walla.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 07:38:43 -0400
Subject: CONTACT ME


ATTN:(HANDLE THIS INFORMATION DISCRETELY)

Sir,

I am DR. KATHY SMITH, the Regional computing auditor of (FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA) JOHANNESBURG BRANCH (SBSA). There is an account opened in this bank in 1985 and since 1992 nobody has operated on this account again. After going through some old files in the records I discovered that if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing according to South Africa laws and act of 1993, the money will be reverted to the government treasury after 15 years if there is no valid claim to the money or account. I need a foreign partner that I will present as a relative to this late man. The owner of this account is Mr. Daniel B. Jones, a foreigner, and a Miner at Kruger Gold Co. A geologist by profession and he died since 1992. The account has no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that this company does not know anything about this account and the amount involved is US$24,000,000 Twenty Four Million US Dollars Only.

I am only contacting you as a foreigner, I will use my influence to effect legal approvals and onward transfer into your account At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 50% of the total amount, 50% will be for me and my family. I await to
hear from you.

Yours truly,
Dr. KATHY SMITHFNB OF SOUTH AFRICA.
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam