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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:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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• What can you do when you receive 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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "because it still remains the fastest medium of communication" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • ",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)
  • "i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: Godwin Scott <godwinscott53@msn.com>
Reply-To: <godwinscott@ig.com.br>
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008 12:36:53 +0000
Subject: Good Day




Good Day

Greetings.I feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business opportunity. Though, I choose to reach you through Internet because it still remains the fastest medium of communication.However,this correspondence is unofficial and private,and it should be treated as such.

I am Auditor Godwin Scott, a United Kingdom Government Auditor and I work in the International operation department in a Bank here in UK. My purpose of contacting you is that I am looking for a Reliable partner to place as the next of kin to a dormant account that have not been operated for years in my bank with a total sum of £20,000,000. 00 Pounds and on further discreet investigation I also discovered that the account holder has long since passed on (dead)leaving no beneficiary or WILL to the account.

I am contacting you to place you as the next of kin to the deceased and I will provide to you the necessary claim documents the bank will require from you in other to claim this fund including the details information of the account in my next mail. I will inform you on what to do if you are going to assure me that you will not betray me and my family with this funds in your possession so as to enable me to start the paper works immediately without further delay.

I have a family of four,My wife Claudia and Hailey, Brooke. Please keep this business within your self for security and safe reasons. Thanks as I'm in anticipation of your favourable response.

Sincerely,

Godwin Scott.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam