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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery 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:

• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "hundred thousand united states 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)
  • ",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)
  • "confidential business" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "very confidential" (scammers urge victims to keep the transaction secret because they don't want anyone to point out to them that it is a scam)
  • "observe utmost confidentiality" (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.
• 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.
  • mehdkaz_emiratesbnk@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Mehdi Kazim <mehdikaz@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: mehdkaz_emiratesbnk@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 11:19:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Foreign Assistance Needed


>From The Desk of Mr. Mehdi Kazim
Corporate Affairs Unit,
Emirates Bank,
Baniyas Rd, Deira
Dubai
United Arab Emirates (UAE).



ATTN: Dear,

I am Mr. Mehdi Kazim, currently working with Corporate Affairs unit with Emirates Bank Dubai (U.A.E.), I have urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. A British Oil consultant and contractor with the Kruger Gold Company, Mr. Donald Heck made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at US$7,500,000.00 (Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in my branch. Upon maturity,

I sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally we discovered from his contract employers, the Kruger Gold Company that Mr. Donald Heck died in a plane crash along with his wife Mr. and Mrs. Donald Heck died in a plane crash along with his wife in Egypt Air Flight 990, 1999 air crash (for more information about this crash and person you can contact this website,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/502503.stm

Since we got this information about his death and on further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL, and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless. I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr. Donald Heck did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents, including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank. This sum of US$7,500,000.00 is still sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sum at the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Laws of United Arab Emirates, at the expiration of 8 (eight) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the (U.A.E.) Government if nobody applies to claim the fund.

Consequently, my proposal is that I will like you as a foreigner to stand in as the next of kin to Mr. Donald Heck so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide will then facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/next of kin.

The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 60% for me and 40% for you. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and my present position & status here guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via the private email address above.

Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand the transaction. Please send me your confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy communication. Please observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. Waiting for your prompt response to proceed via my confidential email address: mehdkaz_emiratesbnk@yahoo.com

Regards,

Mr. Mehdi Kazim


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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam