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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
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• 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)
  • ",500,000" (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)
  • "your urgent reply" (scammers rush victims so they don't have time to think properly)
  • "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)
  • "utmost confidentiality" (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: "andren smith" <andren_smith012@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: andren_smith9999990@yahoo.co.in
Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 19:35:44 +0400
Subject: reply,


Dear Friend
This letter must come to you as a big surprise, but I believe it is only a
day that people meet and become great friends and business partners. I am
Mr. Andren Smith, currently Head of Corporate affairs with a reputable bank
here . I write you this proposal in good faith, believing that I can trust
you with the information I am about to reveal to you.
I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you. On
November 6, 2003, an Iraqi Foreign Oil consultant/contractor with the
CHEVRON PETROLEUM CORPORATION, MR. KHALIL AL NASSER made a (Fixed deposit)
for 36 calendar months, valued at US$17,500,000.00 (Seventeen Million Five
hundred Thousand Dollars only) in my bank and I happen to be his account
officer before I was moved to my present position recently. Upon maturity in
2005, as his account officer and as well the bank manger, it is my duty to
notify him on the maturity date so I sent a routine notification to his
forwarding address but the letter was returned undelivered.
After sometime, I tried sending back the letter, but it was again returned
and finally I discovered from his contract employers, Chevron Petroleum
Corporation that Mr. Khalil Al Nasser died as a result of torture in the
hand of Saddam Hussein (former Iraqi President) during one of his trips to
his country Iraq, as he was accused of leaking information to the Americans.

On further investigation, I discovered that MR. KHALIL AL NASSER. family
wife and two sons died during the Gulf War in Iraq and was the reason why he
did not declare any next of kin or relation in all his official documents,
including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank and did not leave any WILL.
This sum of US$17,500,000.00 have been floating and placed under
dormant/unserviceable account by my bank management since no one have heard
from the owner since 2005. I wish to let you know that all the investigation
I have made so far, my bank management is not aware of it, I am the only one
that have the information.
With the recent change of government in my country and with their efforts to
support the United Nations in check mating terrorism aid , the government
will pass a new financial control law which will give the government
authority to interrogate account owners of above $5.000. to explain the
source of the funds, making sure it is not for terrorism support. If I do
not move this money out of the country immediately, the government will
definitely confiscate the money, because my bank cannot provide the account
owner to explain the source of the money.
I cannot directly transfer out this money without the help of a foreigner
and that is why I am contacting you for an assistance. As the Account
Officer to late MR. KHALIL AL NASSER, coupled with my present position and
status in the bank as Head of Retail Banking Group, I have the power to
influence the release of the funds to any foreigner that comes up as the
next of kin to the account, with the correct information concerning the
account, which I shall give you.
All documents to enable you claim this fund will be carefully worked out and
there is practically no risk involved, the transaction will be executed
under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law,

If you accept to work with me, I want you to state how you wish us to share
the funds in percentage, so that both parties will be satisfied. If you are
interested, contact me as soon as you receive this message so we can go over
the details. Thanking you in advance and may God bless you
Please, treat with utmost confidentiality. I shall send you copy of the
deposit certificate issued to Al Nasser when the deposit was made for your
perusal.
I wait your urgent reply .
Regards,
Mr. Andren Smith.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam