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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
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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:
  • "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million us 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)
  • "await your urgent response" (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)
  • "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)
  • "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: benluke40@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2008 03:05:22 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Important ! Important !!Important !!!


¡Tengo nueva dirección de correo!Ahora puedes escribirme a:benluke94@yahoo.com.pe



- Hello, I have an urgent and very confidential business proposition for you.On December 6th, 2005, a merchant/consultant, Mr. K. S Sach, made a numbered time (fixed) deposit for twelve calendar months valued at $14,000,000.00(Fourteen million US dollars) at my branch. Upon maturity, we sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder. Eventually, we discovered from one of his contract employees that Mr. Kevin had died. Further investigations conducted by me indicated that he neither left a WILL nor a contactable next of kin or a relation in his entire official document, including his bank deposit information with us.This amount is still available in my branch. Nobody has and will ever come forward to claim this money. According to our Country's Law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, this money will be reverted to the Ownership of the Government, which in turn will end up in the hands of some very corrupt and unscrupulous Government Officials. Consequently, my proposal is that, I will like you to stand in as his next of kin, so that this old man's fruit of labor does not get into the hands of uncaring Government Officials.There are legions of less privileged people all over the world for whom a meal is like paradise. I feel that other than allowing this money to disappear, it will be more useful and beneficial to give it out to charitable Organizations. I need your assistance to stand in as his next of kin and claim this money.The process is simple. According to my enquiries from attorneys, all that is required to claim this money is a letter of ADMINISTRATION from the probate registry of the High Court. An attorney will apply with your name as his next of kin. A letter of administration will be issued within Ten (10) working days. This letter will enable the attorney apply to claim this money on your behalf, which would then be transferred to you into a foreign account which you will provide. I wish to point out that I want 40% of this money to be shared among the charity Organizations, while the remaining 60% is shared equally between us.This proposition is entirely risk free. A good attorney would provide expert services while I will use my position in the bank to guarantee the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please contact me via my email address;Upon your response, I shall then provide you with more details and relevant documents that will help you understand this transaction well.Please observe utmost confidentiality, and be rest assured that this transaction would be profitable for both of us. I will also require your assistance towards investing my share in your Country.I await your urgent response.Regards.Ben Luke.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam