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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:
  • "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "huge sum of money" (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)
  • "hundred thousand united states dollars" (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)
  • "is 100% risk free" (almost true for the criminal - arrests of online criminals are rare)
  • "foreign 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.
  • +2289419907 (Togo, probably a prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: "Weli Ali" <weliali054@she.com>
Reply-To: mrwelial@hotmail.com
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:02:10 -0700
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF- MR WELI ALI


FROM THE DESK OF- MR WELI ALI
My home Address 584 rue de Ebe lome-Togo.
Office Address - Boulevard du 13 janvier – Nyékonakpoè BP 359 LOME
Telephone/Fax +228 9419907
Proffession- Banker.
Married With four kids.
Age 42 years old.


I am Mr Weli Ali, working at the auditing and accounting department, UNION
TOGOLIASE DE BANQUE, With due respects and regard, I have decided to
contact you on a business transaction that will be very beneficial to both
of us at the end of the transaction.

During anannual auditing of Account's in our bank, my department came
across avery huge sum of money belonging to a deceased person who died in a
tragic plane crash together with family and their spouses, and four grand
children, since then his fund has been dormant in his account with this Bank
without any claim of the fund in our custody either from his family or
relation before discovery to this development.



The said amount was U.S $5.5M (Five million, Five hundred thousand United
States dollars).Infact I could have done this transaction alone but because
of my position in the country as a civil servant (A Banker), we are not
allowed to operate a foreign account and would eventually raise an eye brow
on my side during the time of transfer because I work in this bank.



This is the actual reason why it will require a second party or fellow who
will forward claims as the next of kin with affidavits of trust of oath to
the Bank and also present a foreign account where you will need the money
to be transferred into on your request as it may be after due verification
and clarification by the correspondent branch of the bank where the whole
money will be remitted from, to your own designation bank account.



I will not fail to inform you that this transaction is 100% risk free. On
smooth conclusion of this transaction, you will be entitled to 45% of the
total sum as gratification, while 50% will be for me, also the remaining 5%
will be for any expenses such like telephone bills which most involved in
this transaction and it will all be deducted out from the total money when
it is been transferred to your account over there.Please, you have been
advised to keep "top secret" as I am still in service and intend to retire
from service after I have concluded this transaction with you.



I will be monitoring the whole situation here in this bank until you
confirm the money in your account and ask me to come down to your country
for subsequent sharing of the fund according to percentages previously
indicated and further investment, either in your country or any country you
advice me to invest in. All other necessary, vital information will be sent
to you when I hear from you.



I look forward to receive your reply urgently. Show your readiness to
assist me in this transaction by replying this proposal as early as possible
and I want you to assure me of your capability of handling this transfer
with trust by giving me the following information's about yourself:



1) Your age.
2) Your occupation.
3) Are you married?
4) Your mobile phone number.
5) Your location andfull address.
6) Your identity card.



I will tell you how you can apply to the bank as soon as i receive your
response towards this mail.

Extend my greetings to your family and you should please try and have trust
on me in this transaction so that we shall achieve our aim together.


Do not take this very transaction as a joke, I am betting you right now
that this is just nothing but reality, so you reply and ask me how you can
apply for the text of application form of claim of the deceased fund from
the bank. It is the foreign remittance departments that are responsible
for transfer of fund into your account over there.


Regards
Mr Weli Ali

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam