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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:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "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)
  • "this business is hitch free " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • greatmasaya@gmail.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "masaya wilfred" <masmasaya2@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:20:44 +0200
Subject: From: Wilfred T. Masaya


From: Wilfred T. Masaya
BidVest Bank South Africa.
Phone: 0027-847-567-141
Email: greatmasaya@gmail.com<http://uk.mc234.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=greatmasaya@gmail.com>

My name is Wilfred T. Masaya the manager, Credit and Foreign Bills of
BIDVEST BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA. I am writing in respect of a foreign customer
of our bank with account number 908-14-255-114 whose name is Chung Timothy,
(Mr.), and an American citizen who died in a plane crash [Korean Air Flight
801] with the whole passengers onboard on August 6, 1997. And for your
perusal you can view this website Ref:
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/06/guam.passenger.list

Since the demise of this customer, I personally have watched with keen
interest to see the next of kin but all has proved abortive as no one has
come to claim his funds of US$15.5M (Fifteen Million Five Hundred Thousand
United States Dollars) which has been with our branch for a very long time.
On this note, I decided to seek for whom his name shall be used as the Next
of Kin as no one has come up as his next of kin. And the banking ethics here
does not allow such money to stay long in the bank else it will be return to
the bank escrow account as unclaimed funds.

In view of this I got your contact through a trade journal when I was ma
king a research on a foreigner I will use in this great opportunity. For
your assistance I am willing to give you 20% of the total amount. Upon the
receipt of your response, I will send you by fax or e-mail the letter of
application which you will type sign and send back to our Bank to enable us
start this processing of this claim.

I will not fail to bring to your notice that this business is hitch free and
that you should not entertain any fear as all modalities for the smooth and
easy transfer of this fund has been finalized, this transaction will be
completed within five banking days of receiving your response, after you
apply to the bank as next of kin to the deceased.

When you receive this message and you are interested, Kindly reply to my
private email addresses:
(greatmasaya@gmail.com<http://uk.mc234.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=greatmasaya@gmail.com>)
and forwards the following details below: or you can give me a call on my
direct phone number above.

1. YOUR NAMES
2. YOUR PHONE NUMBER
3. YOUR TYPE OF WORK
4. YOUR AGE
5. YOUR MARITAL STATUS
6. COUNTRY.

Yours Sincerely,

Wilfred T. Masaya
Phone: 0027-847-567-141
Email: greatmasaya@gmail.com<http://uk.mc234.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=greatmasaya@gmail.com>

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam