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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:
  • "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)
  • "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.

Fraud email example:

From: =?utf-8?q?Peter=20Obi?= <peterobiobi_3@yahoo.in>
Reply-To: peter_obi_40@yahoo.de
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:30:59 +0530 (IST)
Subject: GOOD DAY


I have a new email address!You can now email me at: peterobiobi_3@yahoo.in



- - Attention: Sir/Madam, My name is Mr. Peter Obi, the Manager of Access Bank Plc. I am writing in respect of a foreign customer of our bank with account number 14-255-114 whose name is Late Mr. Morris Thompson, an American by citizen who perished in a plane crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 which crashed on January 31 2000, including his wife and only daughter. You shall read more about the crash on visiting this site Which I got during my investigation; http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/02/01/alaska.airlines.list Since the demise of this our customer, I personally has 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 to be the next Of kin. And the banking ethics here does not allow such money to stay More than Ten Years, because the money will be recalled to the bank Treasury as unclaimed fund after this period. In view of this I got your contact through a trade journal when I was Making a research on a foreigner I will use in this great opportunity. For your assistant I will give you 20% of the total amount then 10% has Been mapped out to donate to the motherless baby home, while the Remaining 70% will be for me and my partner. 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 transaction. 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 a relation to the deceased. When you receive this letter Kindly send me an e-mail signifying your decision including your private Tel/Fax numbers for quick communication.Yours Sincerely, Mr. Peter Obi..

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam