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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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• 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:

• 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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million american 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)
  • ",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)
  • "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)
  • "observe 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)
  • "i have a new email address!" (this SPAM email was probably sent to thousands of people)
• 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.
  • scho98@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: scho_512@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:04:37 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: LETTER


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: scho98@yahoo.com



- I am Mr.Soo Cho, credit officer of CHO HUNG BANK. I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.On Nov. 12, 2003, a British Oil consultant/contractor with the South Korea Solid Minerals Corporation, Mr. Phillip Morris made a numbered time (Fixed) Deposit for twelve calendar months, valued at $28,000,000.00 (Twenty-eight Million American Dollars only) in my branch. Upon maturity,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, that Mr. Phillip Morris died from an auto-mobile accident. On further investigation, I found out that he died without making a WILL,and all attempts to trace his next of kin was fruitless.I therefore made further investigation and discovered that Mr.Phillip Morris did not declare any kin or relations in all his official documents,including his Bank Deposit paperwork in my Bank.This sum of $28,000,000.00 is sti!
ll sitting in my Bank and the interest is being rolled over with the principal sumat the end of each year. No one will ever come forward to claim it. According to Laws of South Korea, at the expiration of (five) years,the money will revert to the ownership of the South Korea Government if nobody applies to claim the fund. nobody applies to claim the fund. stand in as the next of kin to Mr.Phillip Morris so that the fruits of this old man's labor will not get into the hands of some corrupt government officials. This is simple, I will like you to provide immediately your full names and address so that the attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits that will put you in place as the next of kin. We shall employ the services of an attorney for drafting and notarization of the WILL and to obtain the necessary documents and letter of probate/administration in your favor for the transfer. A bank account in any part of the world that you will provide the will, t!
hen facilitate the transfer of this money to you as the beneficiary/ne
xt of kin. The money will be paid into your account for us to share in the ratio of 70%for me and 25% for you and 5% for Expenses Incurred in the course of the transaction. There is no risk at all as all the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the attorney and with my position as the credit officer guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately to my email box. Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details that will help you understand the transaction. Please send me your confidential telephone and fax numbers for easy communication. You should observe utmost confidentiality, and rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for both of us because I shall require your assistance to invest my share in your country. Regards, Soo Cho.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam