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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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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:
  • "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)
  • "international remittance department" (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.
• 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.
  • +447045763344 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)

Fraud email example:

From: "Andrew Wolley" <wolley.andrew8@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:12:51 +0100
Subject: URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED.........................ASAP


>From Mr. Andrew Wolley
Address: 65 Petty France,St James Park,
London SW1H 9EU.
Occupations: International Remittance
CITI'S BANK, LONDON.
Private Contact Mobile Cell: +447045763344
Private Contact Fax No: +448715039937

Good Day,

I am Sir Mr. Andrew Wolley, 60 years of age from London and in the
International Remittance Department Citi Bank London.It is indeed my
pleasure to write this letter to you which I believe will be a surprise to
you as we have not met before. I am deeply sorry if I have in any way
disturbed your privacy and please forgive this unusual manner of contacting
you.
On the 17th of April 2003, I received a call that one of my customers Mr.
John Paul Getty from United States of America died after a brief illness in
London Hospital (BBC News). Visit the web site for Confirmation: (
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/uk/2956897.stm).

Since then I have made several enquiries to locate any of my customer's
extended relatives and until date have not succeeded. I have contacted you
to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client before it gets
confiscated by our bank or declared unserviceable by our bank where this
deposit is lodged.
Now, the bank Directors has called a board meeting regarding this Fund. So
my main motive right now is to share this great opportunity with you by
presenting you as the Next of Kin to the Deceased since all his banking
details are with me as his personal Account Officer. And the deceased
Account valued at £20,000.000 (Twenty Million pounds). Since I have been
unsuccessful in locating the biological relatives of my late client, I
hereby seek your consent to present you to the bank as next-of-kin of the
deceased since you are a foreigner, so that the proceeds of this account
valued at £20,000.000 (Twenty Million pounds) can be transferred to you as
inheritance and thereafter, you and I can share the money; 50% to me and 40%
to you, while 10% will be donated to the Tsunami Disaster Charity Fund.

We shall start the first transfer with £10,000.000.00 (Ten Million pounds),
upon the successful actualization of the first transfer without any
disappointment from your side, we shall re-apply for the payment of the
remaining amount to your account. I have the original copy of Certificate of
Deposit of the funds, which will be used to substantiate our inheritance
claims. All I require is your consent and honest co-operation to enable us
see the deal through.
Furthermore, I guarantee that the transaction will be executed under a
legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Yours faithfully,
Sir Andrew Wolley
Citi Bank

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam