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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• 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.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

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:
  • "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)
  • "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.
  • swiftmartins@myway.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "Martins Swift" <swiftmartins@mailbox.hu>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 12:21:41 +0000
Subject: Reliable Partner Needed Urgently


*Dear:Sir/Ma,
I am Hon. Swift Martins,Director allocation department from the (NatWest
Bank PLC,)London Branch.my office monitors and controls the affairs of all
banks and financial institutions in London concerned with foreign claim
payments. I am the final signatory to any transfer or remittance of huge
funds moving within banks both on the local and international levels in line
with foreign claim settlement.
I have before me list of funds, which could not be transferred to
somenominated accounts as these accounts have been identified either as,
unclaimed deposits and over-invoiced sum etc.
I will include your name among the people expecting the funds to be
transferred into their account, on this note; I wish to have a deal with you
as regards to your unpaid funds.I have all file before me and advice you to
forward your data's so that i can open up a file in your favour as it is my
duty to recommend the transfer of these surplusfunds to the Federal
Government Treasury and Reserve Accounts as unclaimed deposits.
I have the opportunity to write you based on the instructions I received two
days ago from the Foreign Debts reconciliation dept to submit the List of
payment reports/ expenditures and audited reports of revenues.
Among several others, I have decided to remit your claim sum following my
idea that we can have a deal/agreement and I am going to do thislegally.My
conditions are as follows:
1. The sum of USD$6.7M only will be transfer into your account after the
proccessing of all relevant legal documents with your name as the bonfide
beneficary,the transfer will be made by Draft or telegraphic Transfer (T/T),
confirmable in 7 working days.
2. This deal must be kept secret forever, and all correspondence will be
strictly by email / telephone, for security purposes.
3. There should be no third parties as most problem associatedwith your fund
release are caused by your agents or representative.
4. The sharing formula should be 25% for you , 5% for any expenses incure
during cause of transferring into your account ,10% for charity , and the
balance 20% will be for a joint investment by both of us while 40% will be
for me.
Should you be interested please treat this business withutmost
Confidentiality and send me the following:
(1)Full Names
(2)Private Telephone Number
(3)Current Residential Address
(4)Occupation
(5)Age and Profession.
I hope you don't reject this offer and am waiting for your reply soon.
Yours Faithfully
Hon. Swift Martins.
Private Email: **swiftmartins@myway.com* <swiftmartins@myway.com>*

*

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam