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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:
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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:
  • "million pounds" (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)
  • "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)
  • "dormant account" (Banks mentioned in 419 scams are always fake (real banks don't communicate using mobile phones or free webmail addresses))
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  
• 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.
  • richard_delbridge23@hotmail.com

Fraud email example:

From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: <private.del28@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 00:56:48 +0000
Subject: LET ME CONFIDE IN YOU.



From:Richard Delbridge.
PO Box 10720
217 Strand
London WC2R 1AP.

Good Day,


I am Mr.Richard Delbridge,the Senior Finance Director, Offshore Mortgage & Services with Natwest Bank Plc,London.I found Your profile very interesting and hopefully decided to reach you directly to solicit your assistance.


During our Bank's Annual Year Account Auditing,i personally discovered a dormant account with a total sum of £33,000,000.00 GBP[THIRTY THREE MILLION POUNDS STERLINGS].


The owner of this dormant account died on 4th Jan 2002. Since the death of the deceased, nobody has operated in this account till date. Moreover, this account has NO BENEFICIARY attached to it.


Definitely, this fund will be confiscated by our BANKING CODE OF ETHICS if it remains dormant for a period of [7] years without any claims. In this regard, I earnestly need your full cooperation in transferring this dormant fund out of our bank to avoid confiscating this fund.I will split the transfer into two 2 stages for easy and smooth transfer.


First, I will transfer £12.500,000.00 to any valid foreign account you will nominate, upon a successful transfer without any disappointment from your side; I will then fly to meet you in your home destination for sharing, thereafter we jointly transfer the remaining balance of £20.500,000.00 for magnitude investments in your country.


If you are willing to cooperate with me in this project to be sucessful,please kindly send your name and direct telephone numbers through my private email ( richard_delbridge23@hotmail.com ) for an initial and mutual confidential communication. I wish for utmost confidentiality in handling this business investments. Awaiting your reply.


Yours truly
Mr.Richard Delbridge
Snr.Finance Director.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam