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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:

• 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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +23418521901 (Nigeria, landline)
• 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.
  • john_uwa41@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "John Uwa" <john.uwa@klikni.cz>
Reply-To: john_uwa41@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 24 May 2008 09:52:17 +0100
Subject: Request.


*FROM THE DESK OF: Mr. John Uwa
Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC
First Light Branch
Plot 1712, Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Dear Friend, *

*Please accept my sincere apology for this unsolicited mail from me. I have
written you due to the present circumstance for which I do hope you will
understand as you read through.

I am Mr. John Uwa, the Manager Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC First Light Branch.

Our firm is conducting a standard process investigation with assistance from
the international Banking conglomerate to reach relatives of my late client
Mr. Rivera. This is with reference to the circumstances surrounding large
amount of deposits ($6.5Mn United States Dollar) made by this client with
the Private Banking arm of Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC.

Mr. Rivera died intestate (Death without a will) and nominated no successor
in title over the money with the bank. A month after the unfortunate auto
crash which consequently claimed the life's of Mr. Rivera, his wife and two
children, I have been left as his account manager with the dilemma of
neither a surviving spouse nor children to inherit his money with the bank.
*

*This means that the line of succession of his deposit with the bank
ascends, usually beginning with surviving parents, then brothers and sisters
etc. *

*By statutes, the LAWS of Nigeria specifically provide that his property be
inherited according to his marital or blood relations for the purpose of
intestate succession, and I have been instructed by the bank to locate any
surviving member of his extended family for the purpose transferring
ownership of his money currently with the bank.*

*Therefore, with assistance from the international banking conglomerate
through his last name genealogy search, I have contacted you. Even if you
are not exactly sure of being related to the late Mr. Rivera, I still
sincerely wish to request you to work with me since you have the same last
name and you are also of same nationality and will advice you on how to
apply with the bank for the purpose of inheriting his money,

I would appreciate your assistance in this regard, and shall provide you
with more detailed information when I receive your committed response.

Please reply to my personal email **john_uwa41@yahoo.com*<john_uwa41@yahoo.com>
*
Kind Regards.

Mr. John Uwa
(Branch Manager)
First Light Branch
Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC
234-1-852-1901*

*
*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam