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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• 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:
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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:
  • "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. Never ever send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally. )
  • "my names are " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "lagos" (a location commonly mentioned 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.
  • rekaun@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: rekaun@yahoo.com
Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:18:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: HOW ARE YOU DOING


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



- Mrs. Ruth Ekaun, Bsc. Accounting (UNN) ICAN, Admin/Accounting Office, Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria Limited, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom. ATTENTION PLEASE, I am the Admin/Accounting Officer, Aluminum Smelter Company Of Nigeria Limited; My names are Mrs. Ruth Ekaun , my boss ENGINEER (JIM SCHWELKARDT ) a US National who was a general manager (Mechanical Engineer) of the Aluminum Smelter Company Of Nigeria Limited (ALSCON) . On November 13, 2004, my boss Eng. JIM SCHWELKARDT, died after a brief illness at the Saint Nicolas International Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos. Before his death MR JIM SCHWELKARDT deposited the sum of ($23.12million U.S Dollars) company project fund in a private account with the aim of making some profit from it but he died before achieving it. The company has since forgotten the money as no one knows where about it. After five years now, I took the depositing particulars of the account to the bank and I was ask to produce the next of kin to the deceased and I couldn’t as it was not stated in the particulars given to him by the bank as the time the account was open: In trying to do these, Hence I contacted you. I am contacting you in other to present you as the next of kin to ENGN. JIM SCHWELKARDT and to assist in repatriating the money from the bank. I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased as you share the same nationality with the deceased, so that the proceeds of this account valued at ($23.12million U.S Dollars) can be paid to you and then you and I Can share the money. 30% to you and 55% for me and 15% for unforeseen bottlenecks we might come across in this transaction. An attorney will be contracted to help us revalidate and notarize all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim you may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through, I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you and me from any breach of the law. Please urgent reply is needed. Please reply to: rekaun@yahoo.com Best regards, Mrs. Ruth Ekaun Admin/Accounting Office Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria Limited. PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT RELATED TO LATE ENGN. JIM SCHWELKARDT, THE MONEY WILL STILL BE RELEASE TO YOU AS I AM PRESENTING YOU AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO MY LATE BOSS.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam