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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:
  • "money laundering" ("anti-terrorist", "anti-money laundering" or "drug-free" certificates are a common way for criminals in fake lottery scams and other Advance Fee scams to get you to send money to them. There are no such certificates in the real banking world. )
  • "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)
  • "hundred thousand 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "00,000.00" (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)
  • "top secret" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Mr Nana Yeu <nanayeu4a@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: nanayeu117@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:50:40 -0800 (PST)
Subject: hello




From : MR Nana Yeu


My name is MR Nana Yeu , a banker here in GHANA. I write you this proposal in good faith as a brother. In 2002 a Crude Oil dealer Late Mr. Potgieter, Johannes Potgieter, Johannes, made a fixed deposit for 36 calendar months, valued at Seventeen Million, Five hundred Thousand US Dollars (US$17,500,000.00) with my bank. I was his account officer before I rose to the position of manager. The maturity date for this deposit contract was 20th of August 2005. I have tried my possible best to locate Mr. Potgieter to notify him about this, but all my efforts proved abortive. I later discovered that Mr.Potgieter, Johannes was killed by a Suicide bomber in Baghdad Iraq. Unfortunately, he has no other living relatives to inherit this fund.

http://icasualties.org

Now, a new Financial Law, which takes effect in two month’s time, stipulates that any bank account more than $5,000,000.00 [Five Million US Dollars] will be investigated and the bank shall produce the account owner for clearance. This is a Government measure to
check money laundering. If I do not find a way to move this money out of the country immediately, in two month’s time, it might be reverted to Government treasury because the bank management cannot provide Mr. Potgieter, Johannes since he is now late. I am seeking your co-operation to present you as the next of kin to the account since you are a foreigner, so that my bank head quarters will release the funds to you. It is only a foreigner who can claim the funds in the account. Please, treat as top secret, I am the only
person having this information. But don't reply if you can not assist in this transaction.

Regards,

MR Nana Yeu


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam