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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
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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:
  • "please endeavor to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "to your nominated bank 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)
  • "hundred thousand united state 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)
  • "united state of america" (this email uses bad English)
  • "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
  • "there is no risk involved" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
• 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.
  • lewiscrouch30@yahoo.co.in (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: lewiscrouch@zipmail.com.br
Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:02:40 +0100
Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?From=20Lewis=20Crouch=20Compliment=20of=20the=20Season=20Urgent=20?=

I AM MR LEWIS WILLIAM CROUCH
CITIZEN OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN
CONTATACT ME WITH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS
(lewiscrouch30@yahoo.co.in)
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
Visit Web bank Site:www.bkofafrica.net

Hello friend,

Let me start by introducing myself. I am Lewis Crouch united state of American
director of operations of the Senegal Bank Ltd. I have an obscured business
suggestion for you.Before the U.S and Iraqi war our client Major Mark Smith
who was with the Iraqi forces and also business man made a numbered fixed
deposit for 18 calendar months, with a value of Twenty Four millions Five
Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only in my branch. Upon maturity several
notice was sent to him, even during the war.

Again after the war another notification was sent and still no response
came from him.We later found out that the Major and his family had been
killed during the war in bomb blast that hit their home. After further investigation
it was also discovered that Major Mark Smith's did not declare any next
of kin in hisofficial papers including the paper work of his bank deposit.
And heal so confided in me the last time he was at my office that no one
except me knew of his deposit in my bank. So, USD$18.870M(eighteen million
eight hundred and seventy thousand united states dollars is still lying
in my bank and no one will ever come forward to claim it. What bothers me
most is that according to the laws of Senegal country at the expiration
7years the funds will revert to the ownership of the Hong Kong Government
if nobody applies to claim the funds. Against this backdrop, my suggestion
to you is that I will like you as a foreigner brother to stand as the next
of kin to Mark Smith's so that you will be able to receive his funds.
WHAT IS TO BE DONE:
I want you to know that I have had everything planned out so that we shall
come out successful. I will contact my attorney to prepare the necessary
document that will back you up as the next of kin to Major Fadi Basem,all
that is required from you at this stage is for you to provide me with your
Full Names and Address so that the attorney can commence his job.After you
have been made the next of kin, the attorney will also file in for claims
on your behalf and secure the necessary approval and letter of probate in
your favor for the move of the funds to an account that will be provided
by you.There is no risk involved at all in the matter as we are going to
adopt a legalized method and the attorney will prepare all the necessary
documents.

Please endeavor to observe utmost discretion in all matters concerning this
issue.Once the funds have been transferred to your nominated bank account
we shall share in the ratio of 60% for me, 40% for you and 10% will be use
to pay back any partner at the end of the transfer for any money spent in
the process of the transfer. Should you be interested please send me your
full names and current residential address and I will prefer you to reach
me on this email address(lewiscrouch30@yahoo.co.in) which is my private
email address and finally after that i shall provide you with more details
of this operation.Finally I implore you to treat this transaction with secrecy
and confidentiality for security reasons.Your earliest response to this
letter will be appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Lewis Crouch Esq.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam