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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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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:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "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. )
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • ",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)
  • "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)
  • "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)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "issa bello" <issabello04@gmail.com>
Reply-To: issa_bello1@yahoo.fr
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 17:21:16 +0200
Subject: FROM ISSA BELLO


DEAR FRIEND,

I AM ISSA BELLO, THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE DIRECTOR OF GOLD MERCHANT BANK IN
BURKINA FASO(GMB). I HAVE URGENT AND VERY CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL FOR
YOU. ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2001, MR WERNER KARL RUDDIGKEIT, A NATIONAL OF GERMAN,
WHO USED TO BE A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR WITH THE SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY IN SAUDI ARABIA MR. WERNER KARL RUDDIGKEIT MADE A CASH DEPOSIT
ACCOUNT (FIXED DEPOSIT) FOR 36 CALENDAR MONTHS, VALUED AT GBP£10,000,000.00
(TEN MILLION POUNDS ONLY) IN MY BRANCH.

UPON MATURITY IN 2004, 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, SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
IN SAUDI ARABIA THAT MR. WERNER KARL RUDDIGKEIT AND HIS WIFE WITH THEIR
THREE CHILDREN WERE INVOLVED IN AN AUTO CRASH, ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE
UNFORTUNATELY LOST THEIR LIVES.

ON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND OUT THAT HE DIED WITHOUT MAKING A WILL,
AND ALL ATTEMPTS TO TRACE HIS NEXT OF KIN WERE FRUITLESS. I THEREFORE MADE
FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS AND DISCOVERED THAT MR. WERNER KARL RUDDIGKEIT. DID
NOT DECLARE ANY NEXT OF KIN OR RELATIONS IN ALL HIS OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS,
INCLUDING HIS BANK DEPOSIT PAPERWORK IN MY BANK.

THIS SUM OF GBP£10.000,000.00 HAVE BEEN FLOATING AS UNCLAIMED SINCE 2001 IN
MY BANK AS ALL EFFORTS TO GET HIS RELATIVES HAVE HIT THE STONES.

ACCORDING TO THE BURKINA FASO LAW AT THE EXPIRATION OF 5 FIVE) YEARS, THE
MONEY WILL

REVERT TO THE OWNERSHIP OF THE BURKINA FASO GOVERNMENT IF NOBODY APPLIES TO
CLAIM THE FUND AND THE FIVE YEARS IS THE END OF DECEMBER 2006. SINCE I HAVE
BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING THE RELATIVES FOR OVER 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 GBP£10,000,000.00
CAN BE PAID TO YOU. THIS WILL BE DISBURSED OR SHARED IN THESE PERCENTAGE,
60% TO ME AND 40% TO YOU.

I HAVE ALL NECESSARY LEGAL DOCUMENTS THAT CAN BE USED TO BACK UP ANY CLAIM
WE MAY MAKE. ALL I REQUIRE IS YOUR HONEST CO-OPERATION, CONFIDENTIALITY AND
TRUST TO ENABLE US SEE 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 OR FURNISH ME WITH THE FOLLOWINGS;

1. FULL NAME
2. YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND FAX NUMBER
3. YOUR CONTACT ADDRESS
4. AGE

YOUR URGENT RESPONSE WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.


BEST REGARDS,
ISSA BELLO.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam