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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:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "greater london" (a common phrase found 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.
  • +447031911321 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "DR JOHNSON MICHAEL" <drjmuk06@e-mail.ua>
Reply-To: micjohnson22@yahoo.it
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 07:54:09 -0700
Subject: Hello,


Hello,


My Name is Dr. Johnson Michael from Harlesden , North West London ,here in
England . I work for Natwest Bank Corporation London. I am writing you from
my office that will be of an immense benefit to both of us. In my
department, being the fund transfer assistant manager (Greater London
Regional Office), I discovered an abandoned sum of $12.5 Million United
State America Dollars (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Million United
State America Dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign
customers Late Mr. Thompson Morrison American citizen who unfortunately lost
his life in the plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on
31st January 2000, including his wife and only daughter.

The choice of contacting you is aroused from the geographical nature of
where you live, particularly due to the sensitivity of the transaction and
the confidentiality herein. Now our bank has been waiting for any of the
relatives to come-up for the claim but nobody has done that. I personally
have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for 2 years now, I seek
your consent to present you as the next of kin /Will Beneficiary to the
deceased so that the proceeds of this account valued at 12.5 Million United
State America Dollars can be paid to you.

This will be disbursed or shared in these percentages, 60% to me and 40% to
you. I have secured all necessary legal documents that can be used to back
up this claim we are making. All i need is to fill in your names to the
documents and legalize it in the court here to prove you as the legitimate
beneficiary. All I require now is your honest Co-operation, Confidentiality
and Trust to enable us sees this transaction through. I guarantee you that
this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you
from any breach of the law. Please, provide me the following: as we have 5
days to run it through. Treat as URGENT PLEASE.

1. Full Name

2. Your Telephone Number

3. Your Contact Address.

Your urgent response will be highly anticipated and appreciated.

Best regards,
Dr. Johnson Michael
+447031911321

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam